Prelude: Martini Gras

I friend was planning on having a martini party last night, complete with hired bartender, martini menu, bar snacks, etc. However, due to the weather, many people canceled and the 20+ person rager was demoted to a 12 person delightful night.

Our host lives in a 2 bedroom condo with a basement and a back porch. Most of the party took place in the kitchen (which is all too common) and downstairs at the bar (also all too common). The host, while having some martini ideas in mind, asked that we all bring a recipe to the party. He already furnished himself with a litany of liquors to satisfy any concoction we could create.

After a few of the classics like a dirty martini and a cosmo, our slightly inebriated minds quickly came up with some quizzical combinations. The star of the night was the whipped cream flavored vodka, which, due to our greatest efforts, seemed to find its way into almost every drink we made, even if it was added after the fact just for fun (or alcoholic strength). Here are some of our creations:

Dreamsickle: Orange soda and whipped cream vodka.
                This one was a little too sweet for me. I would have used a diet orange soda with a splash or orange juice. Half and half could also be added for a creamy texture providing for a dessert oriented drink.

Pina Colada: Pineapple juice, coconut rum, coconut vodka (we used UV, which made the whole drink white)
                A summer drink without a doubt. Unlike the iced drink, this one wasn’t full of coconut cream, so you could sip it down without that full feeling from such a sweet drink. Its white color made it stand out. The acidity of the pineapple juice really cut the vodka, making it easy to drink.

Berry Hi-C: Pomegranate/blueberry juice and tropical fruit vodka
                The name really says it all. The drink was very smooth as the alcohol was hidden behind the tartness of the pomegranate. The drink was a light purple color and was asking for some garnish or accent to really bring it to the next level.

Bubble-Yum: Bubblegum flavored vodka and watermelon schnapps
                Sickeningly sweet, this drink brought you back to your childhood. It tasted exactly like that bright red cube of sugary gum you used to pop into your mouth (and perhaps still do). I was glad that there were mini martini glasses because even one of these is too much. A drink to sample, appreciate its artistry, enjoy the nostalgia, then pass to the next person.

Chocoholic: Chocolate cream liquor, crème de cocoa, chocolate flavored vodka
                Needless to say, this was a heavy, dessert martini that many of us (except of course the DDs) tried at the end of the night. We garnished by dipping the rim of the glass in cocoa powder, giving the interior of the glass a swirl a chocolate syrup, pouring in the drink, the dropping in some dark chocolate covered espresso beans. It was sweet, yet not cloying until you got to the bottom where all the syrup had gathered. The alcohol was hidden beneath the blanket of chocolate as the drink tasted like liquid French silk pie.

On the way home, we were discussing how much fun we had and compared it to what the night would have been like had we done it at a bar rather than someone’s house. We all agreed that the likely $50 bar tab per person was far less appealing than night we had all just enjoyed. Thank you Michael, you throw a wonderful party and I can’t wait for Martini Gras. I will make sure to update you on the new martini mixtures.