Oprah’s favorite Martini is the Pomegranate Martini. How can one complain about anti-oxidants and Vodka? Sex and the City fans helped spread the popularity of the Cosmopolitan.

I have a friend who took a week off of work just to try and create the perfect Martini. She ended up being an Appletini fan. Many hip restaurants feature a Chocolate Martini. And now the latest Martini craze seems to be the Espresso Martini.

Modern Martini Recipes

Lemon Drop Martini

2oz Lemon Vodka

½oz Triple sec

4 – 8 squeezed lemons (Add used Lemons to tumbler)

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously

Rim Martini Glass with Sugar

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with lemon twist

Pomegranate Martini

3oz Citrus Vodka

3oz Pomegranate juice

lemon rind

ice

place 2 martini glasses in freezer for about 5 hours

add ice vodka and juice to martini shaker

shake thoroughly and pour into chilled martini glasses

garnish with corkscrew of lemon rind

Cosmopolitan Martini

1½oz Vodka

½oz Triple sec

2 oz Cranberry juice

1 oz Lime juice or 2 fresh squeezed lime wedges

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with lime or cranberries or both

Apple Martini

1oz Vodka

1oz Sour apple

2-3 oz Lime juice

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass No Ice (Up) Preferred* or Over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with Lime wedge or dried apple chip.

Chocolate Martini

1 oz Vodka

1 oz Crème de cacao

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass – No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with cherries, cranberries or chocolate sprinkles

Espresso Martini

1 oz Vodka

1 oz Kahlua or Coffee Licquer

1 Shot of Espresso

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass – No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with 3 Espresso beans

Gin Martini

2oz Dry Gin

1 dash of dry vermouth

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake (Shaken will bruise the gin making it cloudy)

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker

Garnish with 2 olives or a twist of lemon

Vodka Martini

2oz Vodka

1 dash of dry vermouth

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker

Garnish with 2 olives or a twist of lemon

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Dirty Martini

2oz Vodka or 2oz Gin

1 dash of dry vermouth

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker

Add 1-2 teaspoons of Olive Brine. The more Brine you use, the dirtier the martini

Garnish with 2 olives

Gibson Martini

2oz Dry Gin

1 dash of dry vermouth

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, stir or Shake (Shaken will bruise the gin making it cloudy)

Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass using strainer, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) or over Ice (Rocks) if rocks, use the ice from the shaker

Garnish with pickled Pearl Onions

Once I discovered the dirty martini, it has become my favorite. But where does the olive juice come from? Usually the bartender just pours some of the brine from the jar of green martini olives into the  mix. This can leave you with jars of dry olives in your refrigerator. It can also be expensive, and if you have ever watched a bartender stick his fingers into an olive jar, and strain the liquid into your drink, you probably would prefer not to relive that.

Then I discovered Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice. Dirty Sue is twice filtered olive brine made from premium olives, created by bartenders, to make the best dirty martinis available. If you enjoy dirty martinis then you will definitely want to try Dirty Sue. It has a nice olive flavor, smells wonderful and is a staple for any martini bar.

To make a Dirty Sue Martini just shake 3 ounces of gin or vodka and 1/2 ounce Dirty Sue with ice and strain into a martini glass. I prefer to use a small bit of vermouth and make mine dry with gin. I also use 3 olives or blue cheese stuffed olives. I also enjoy the hot variation with a couple added drops of tobasco and jalapeno olives.