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
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
I love the sweet taste of maraschino cherries, so I thought I would incorporate it into a classic martini. I made a classic martini and simply added two teaspoons of maraschino cherry syrup then garnished the drink with one of the cherries. Simple. Goes well with a cookie. Apparently. Continue reading Maraschino Cherry Martini
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
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
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
While I was jogging this morning I was arrested, not by the intense heat, the failing of my heart or the police, but by the scent of jasmine flowers growing on a bush in the neighbour’s garden. As usual, my first thought was ‘how do I martini-fy this?’ I picked a handful (don’t tell the neighbour), but I’m sure you could use normal jasmine tea. … Continue reading The Jasmine martini
Have you ever had a lemon drop martini? It’s the inspiration for this drink. I just altered the recipe slightly. You will need: Gin or vodka (vodka is probably better) Sweet vermouth Lemons and limes (one each for the number of drinks you want to make) Honey Sprite (yes, sprite) I’m on holiday in the Mediterranean; a time for relaxation and spending quality time with … Continue reading The Lemon and Lime Drop Martini
I found some pickled Brazilian ‘little beak’ peppers (pimenta biquinho em conserva) in the supermarket and I knew instantly what to do with them. It’s a very simple variation on a spicy martini recipe I’ve made before. Notable ingredients include tabasco sauce or hot sauce. I use both but you could omit one if you wanted. The hot sauce adds colour, while both add a … Continue reading Spicy Martini with Brazilian Peppers
Referred to in the US as the Cotton Candy martini, this concoction could also be dubbed the Diabetini. It can be very sweet and isn’t my sort of drink, but I thought I would experiment with it nonetheless. Get yourself some candyfloss. Mix together some chilled vodka, cranberry juice and freshly squeezed lemon juice. A full lemon will yield enough for two of these martinis, … Continue reading The Candyflosstini
The Martini Socialist 