The Fujian Martini – made with Lapsang Souchong

This is a really easy martini to make. You infuse gin or vodka with Lapsang Souchong tea and use this to create a martini in the same way as a classic. This is another of the “mar-tea-nis” (martinis made with gin/vodka infused with tea) and is my joint favourite alongside an Earl Grey Martini. It’s also pretty simple to put together. Lapsang Souchong is my … Continue reading The Fujian Martini – made with Lapsang Souchong

The Saffron Martini

This one is a real treat of colour. A martini made with saffron is beautiful to look at, with interesting, subtle botanicals.  But what you would expect if you take the rarest, most expensive spice and infuse it into the most elegant of drinks? Note that you can also buy very high quality saffron gin ready made here. I cannot claim credit for the original recipe. … Continue reading The Saffron Martini

The Squid Ink and Octopus Martini

    This one goes by many names… The Octopus-tini The Octopussy Martini The Loch Ness Monstini The Nautilus-tini The Maritime Martini The Tako-tini (tako no matini / タコのマティーニ) And finally, the Spectre Martini Add squid ink and octopus tentacle soaked in balsamic vinegar to make an unusual variation of a dirty martini and Le Jacques Coustini.    Get yourself some sea legs by drinking one … Continue reading The Squid Ink and Octopus Martini

Worcestershire Sauce Martini

Yes you read that correctly. This is another slight variation on a classic martini. Just before you pour the martini, smudge a small amount of Worcestershire sauce into the glass. It adds a slightly savoury tinge to the drink which works quite well, especially if you’re looking to whet the appetite for a meal. Below is a suggestion: Marinade a good steak at room temperature … Continue reading Worcestershire Sauce Martini

The Mangoosteeni

Mangoosteen are an unusual looking tropical fruit with a thick, purple skin and soft, sweet white flesh, similar in taste to a lychee. In order to make a martini out of them, I followed a very simple formula similar to a Lychee Martini. Take a tin of mangoosteen (you can find them in specialist Asian supermarkets), then make the martini as follows (you can alter … Continue reading The Mangoosteeni

The Churchill Martini

This is a crowd pleaser.    Winston Churchill was one of the world’s greatest war-time political leaders. He was also a martini drinker. We can thank both him and the classic drink for leading the fight against fascism. “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me” What should be noted is that Churchill liked his martinis to be somewhat … Continue reading The Churchill Martini

The man from the Alphabet Agencies

While attending an ‘event’ in a certain Middle Eastern city, I was introduced to a charming gentleman from, shall we say, one of the ‘Alphabet Agencies’. While our discussion covered subjects including politics, diplomacy and turmoil in the region, it settled upon the subject of martinis, of which we are both fond. When one works in the business of ‘international affairs’, a strong martini is … Continue reading The man from the Alphabet Agencies