Somewhat controversially, I occasionally infuse gin or vodka with parmesan to make a Parmesan Martini.

You might oppose the concept but I can assure you, it’s extremely tasty!

So I thought I would try the same thing with blue cheese, which has very different characteristics but is nonetheless delicious.

Blue cheese goes extremely well with martinis.

There is something about its creamy freshness that pairs so well with the cold glass of tantalising poison we all love.

It is often paired in the form of olives stuffed with blue cheese, particularly in North America, the birthplace of the martini.

Inspired, I got to work on an experiment.

The Steps

I muddled and infused a relatively neutral gin with a chunk of Hebridean Blue Cheese. It only took about a minute. The flavour was imparted very easily and the gin very quickly took on a greyish-blue tint.

This is a similar colour to a healthy Agave americana (my favourite plant) but I cannot mask that it doesn’t quite look as appetising a hue as other martini variations.

Leaving it overnight is ample time to allow the flavour to develop. I put it in a sealed jar and let it infuse in the fridge. In the morning I gave it a good shake and put the jar in the freezer to chill until the evening.

When it was time to serve, I didn’t strain it. I just took the jar from the freezer, gave it a stir then let it settle for a few minutes for the sediment to sink to the bottom.

Add a small measure of vermouth to taste to a chilled glass and top up with the infused gin (vodka also works well by the way) using the same ratios of a classic martini.

The Verdict

Unfortunately while it tasted very good, the resulting drink lacked the beautiful texture of the cheese itself.

It tasted very nice, and paired well with pickles.

Nonetheless, my conclusion is to save yourself the time, don’t worry about infusing the spirit, simply enjoy the martini as it is, and savour the sharp, acid-umami creaminess of the cheese on the side, with or without additional accompaniments.

It’s delicious! It doesn’t need anything else.