Martinis

     No holiday season is complete, for me anyway, with out a couple of festive cocktails. I was a bartender for years and here are recipes for a few of the martinis  I made. They have been simplified a little, not everyone has a completely stocked bar  to work with, but I do recommend having a cocktail shaker. You can use two glasses that fit together but it is messy and eventually, they normally end up broken. Of the following list, the Purple Haze and the classic Manhattan are my favourites.

Martinis

Pomegranate

1 oz vodka or citrus vodka

1/2 oz Cointreau

Pomegranate juice

Squeeze of lemon

Lemon wedge or wheel for garnish

Cranberry / Crantini

1 oz vodka

1/2 oz Cointreau

Cranberry juice

Squeeze of lemon or lime

Lemon, lime or orange wedge or wheel for garnish

Classic Apple

2 oz Vodka

1 oz Apple SourPuss

 Slice of green apple for garnish
Caramel Apple

Add 1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps to Apple Martini recipe, reduce Vodka to 1 oz

Chocolate/ White Chocolate

2 oz Vodka

1 oz White Crème de Cacao / Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur

Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

Cosmopolitan

1½oz Vodka

½oz Triple sec

Cranberry juice

 Squeeze of lime

Garnish with lime

Purple Haze

1oz Vodka

1oz Blue Curacao

Pineapple juice* optional

Cranberry Juice

Orange wedge or wheel for garnish

Raspberry

2 oz Vodka

1oz Raspberry SourPuss

Raspberry / Cranberry/ Pomegranate juice

 Fruite Raspberry juice is my choice. Cranberry or pomegranate juice make it a Very Berry or Simply Red

Manhattan

1 ½ oz Rye

½ oz sweet vermouth

Dash of bitters, it’s not really a Manhattan without the bitters

Garnish with maraschino cherry

     I have not included recipes for a classic gin or vodka martini, if you drink them you normally know how to make them. Before you comment on how that isn't the recipe for a "whatever", recipes vary from bar to bar, city to city, country to country. I have about six variations for a Cosmo and I think at least one for every other drink as well.

     There they are, some of the most requested merry makers I have made. Remember,

     Always drink responsibly, don't drive if your out making merry.  Enjoy the holidays.