Vodka Martini

Do you have a favorite cocktail? One that you always order when out with friends, your go-to drink? I have two. Gin and Tonic with Hendricks and a slice of cucumber, and Peach Bellini Martinis. The combination of sweet and fruity with a sour lemon bite is perfectly balanced. I love this bellini cocktail recipe as an after-dinner drink or paired with a salty appetizer.

The return to classic cocktails is a popular topic in the restaurant world. Freshly blended fruit purees are slowly starting to replace commercially prepared. Herbs and bitters are gaining popularity again, and many small-batch distilleries are creating unique high-quality liquors. Today’s consumers are looking for a special experience, for their drinks to be created by hand and with a story.

What’s the story behind the martini? We know that James Bond prefers his shaken not stirred, but the book goes back much further than that. Many historians believe that the original Martini dates to the California Gold Rush. As the story goes, a lucky miner who struck gold asked a bartender for a specially-made drink to celebrate his fortune. He was served a concoction of gin, fortified wine, and a few herbals - titled a “Martinez” after the town they were in. The drink has evolved over the years and now includes vodka, herbals, the occasional handmade fruit puree and garnish of fresh fruit. Garnish the vanilla peach bellini martini with a lemon rind.

Peach Bellini Martini

Vanilla Peach Bellini Martini

James bond prefers his martinis on the simple side, but that's only because he hasn't tried our sweet, sophisticated take on the formula.
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Course Drinks
Servings 1 martini

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ice cubes
  • 3 oz vodka
  • 1 1/2 oz peach schnapps
  • 1 1/2 oz peach puree
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • lemon rind for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Add all of the ingredients (except the lemon rind) to a cocktail shaker.
  • Shake to chill, and pour into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
  • Garnish with a lemon rind.