The Cocktail Napkin -- Chocolate Martini

by Jo Petteruti, Mixologist and Owner, Jo's Stillwater Tea Room -- Did you know that the Chocolate Martini, also known as a Chocolatini, was originally created by Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in 1955 when they were filming the movie Giant in a little town called Marfa, Texas?  They became good friends during that filming and as friends often do, also drank together quite often.  They both liked to drink vodka martinis, and both of them loved chocolate.  So, one evening after dinner they decided to experiment by combining those two flavors in a martini-style cocktail. Most people think of the Chocolate Martini as just a dessert drink, and not one for “serious drinkers”.  In fact, it's earned a reputation for being just a fun cocktail -  something to sip stylishly after dinner or at an informal social gathering.  It had also become a popular cocktail for Valentine's Day – garnish it with a chocolate-dipped strawberry and you have a gift in a glass. Rock and Liz made their original Chocolate Martini by simply mixing Hershey's chocolate syrup with Kaluha and vodka.  Since then however, numerous variations have emerged.  Some bartenders will rim the glass with cocoa powder, or drizzle the chocolate syrup along the inside of the glass, or will garnish the cocktail with chocolate shavings or fresh mint leaves.  Bailey's Irish Cream and Godiva Chocolate Liqueur are commonly used ingredients along with the vodka. The Chocolate Martini made at the Tea Room is an original recipe that we concocted with another patron, one fun evening.  Since then, it's been one of those “off-menu specials”.    As is the case with all of the Tea Room martinis, our Chocolate Martini is served in a coupe (martini-style) cocktail glass with a sidecar (a little carafe) and the ice from the mix in a rocks glass with a little silver spoon.  This particular martini is shaken so well that it comes out as creamy as a milk shake. Chocolate Martini Ingredients:

• ¾ oz Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
• ¾ oz White Creme de Cacao
• ¾ oz Skyy Vodka
• ¾ oz Sonora Bacanora Mocha Caramel Creme
• Cocoa powder sprinkle for the garnish

Preparation:

• Chill a coupe glass.
• Add a good scoop of ice to a cocktail shaker, then pour in all liquid ingredients.
• Cover and shake really well until icy cold.
• Strain the shaker's ingredients into the glass, filling it about two-thirds of the way. Strain the rest into the sidecar then add the ice into a rocks glass.
• Garnish with a little sprinkle of cocoa powder in the glass, in the sidecar and on the rocks.

Sip and enjoy it responsibly... Ciao!     Never miss a meeting or community event – keep an eye on the community calendar at https://www.thefallonpost.org/events/ If you like what we’re doing, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and contribute to The Fallon Post, your online news source for all things Fallon.