by Laura Kleban

Created on: May 10, 2010

Creative Martinis

Oh, how the Martini has evolved! When I started in the restaurant industry a few years back (OK, 25 years back…) a martini was a very basic drink. Gin, vermouth and an olive. That was it!

Today a martini is many things. Somewhere along the line, people started mixing many different kinds of liquor and juice and serving it straight up in a martini glass, and now almost any drink or shot you can think of can be called a martini! Many bars and restaurants in my area consider themselves to be “martini bars” and serve hundreds of different kinds of unique drinks in martini fashion and call them all martinis.

Don’t get the impression that I don’t care for the new way of thinking about martinis, by the way. I love to come up with new and different drinks for my regular customers when I am bartending, and my customers love it too! The following martini recipes are for drinks that I have come up with personally, but since there are only a certain number of combinations of liquors out there, some of them may sound familiar.

All of the following recipes serve four martinis. I suggest a simple method for making the martinis, too. Pour all of the ingredients for your martini into a large drink mixing tin unless otherwise indicated by the recipe. Cover the tin, shake very well and strain the martinis into chilled, martini glasses and garnish as suggested. Enjoy responsibly!

Mango Passion Martini:

This martini is very lively and fresh tasting. It goes over very well at an outdoor spring function. Try garnishing with a cherry if desired.

8 Oz. Mango Parrot Bay Rum

4 Oz. Peach Schnapps

3 Oz. Passion Fruit juice

1 Oz. Grenadine

Shake all ingredients in a mixing tin and strain into four martini glasses.

Blackbird Martini:

This martini has a real kick, but the vanilla vodka smoothes out the drink on the finish. I generally do not garnish this drink, either. It really doesn’t need it!

8 Oz. Vanilla Vodka

4 Oz. Blackberry Liquor

2 Oz. Cranberry Juice

Shake all ingredients in a mixing tin and strain into four martini glasses.

B-52 Bomber Martini:

This drink is a variation on a shot that many people drink in my area, and it is one of my favorites, but it really should be LAYERED for full visual effect. To layer a drink, take the heaviest liquor you are using (in this case, Bailey’s) and pour it into the bottom of the martini glass. Place the tip of a spoon upside down on the edge of the glass, just touching the other liquor. Pour the next ingredient SLOWLY over the spoon, and it will not mix. It will settle on top! This technique can be used for many different drinks, and it is very easy once you get the trick down.

Martini Ingredients:

Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur

Kahlua Coffee Liqueur

Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur

Starting by adding about 1 Oz. of the Bailey’s to the bottom or each martini glass. Place your spoon tip over the Bailey’s and slowly pour about 1 Oz. of Kahlua into each glass. Finish each drink with a layer of Grand Marnier. This drink can be served as a shot as well as a martini!

I hope you enjoy my creative martinis! All comments are appreciated!

Learn more about this author, Laura Kleban.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.