Key Lime Martini

It's light and frothy.  It's not too sweet, not too tart and so easy to make.  It's the perfect martini to sip on the deck on a warm evening.  Move over Lemon Drop - there's a new drink in town!

2 oz Vanilla vodka

2 oz fresh squeezed lime

2 oz half and half or cream

2 heaping teaspoons powdered sugar

Fill shaker with ice. 

Add ingredients.

Shake until ice crystals form on shaker.

Pour into martini glass rimmed with fresh lime.

Garnish with a sprinkle of lime zest if you must.

This is a simple cocktail.  Less is more.

Enjoy!

Blueberry Lemon Cake Martini

It's "just enough" sweet balanced with the perfect amount of tart.  It quenches your thirst but leaves you wanting more.  It advances a fruity foo foo cocktail to the next level and adds a twist of sophistication.  Move over Cosmopolitan.  (Insert wink here.)

1 part Three Olives Cake Vodka

2 parts Simply Lemonade with Blueberry

Lemon slice to garnish

Rim chilled martini glass with squeeze of fresh lemon.  Add vodka and juice to shaker over liberal amounts of ice.  Shake vigorously, until frost appears on outside of shaker.  Pour into martini glass and garnish with fresh lemon slice.  Enjoy!

The Pink and Purple Panther

It's a cousin of Cupid's Cup (http://cocktails.about.com/od/vodkadrinkrecipes/r/cherub_cup.htm) and the Red Martini Bar's (Redmond, Oregon) Cupid's Kiss!

Crisp, light, dry and fruity but not too sweet.  A perfect cocktail to sip in the hot tub!  

Happy Valentines Day!

Muddle:

1/4 cup (or handful) of fresh or frozen huckleberries

2 oz vodka

1 oz St. Germain

Loosely strain mixture over ice:

Finish with a light layer of Pink Moscato Champagne

or substitute Sprite or seltzer water in place of champagne.

Stir and enjoy!

The Peppermint Bark Martini

Don't let this drink's festive appearance fool you.  I think it's nickname will be "Jingle Juice" cuz it's guaranteed to ring some bells!

1 oz Vanilla Vodka

1 oz Godiva White Chocolate liqueur

1/2 oz Peppermint Schnapps

Splash of cream

Corn syrup

Crushed candy canes

Rim martini glass with light coat of corn syrup.  Dip in crushed candy canes.  Put in freezer.

Fill cocktail shaker with ice, add vodka, white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps and a splash of cream or half and half.

Shake until shaker begins to frost on outside, pour into chilled martini glasses.  Garnish with mini candy cane.  Enjoy!

The Parley Cocktail

When you'd rather ask for forgiveness than for permission:

3 oz Mandarin Absolute Vodka

1 oz St. Germaine 

4-6 oz Cran-pomegranate  juice

Cherry gelatin powder

Honey or corn syrup

Ice

Rim glass with honey or corn syrup then coat with dry cherry gelatin.

Add ice to shaker with vodka, St.Germaine and cranberry-pomegranate juice.

Shake until outside of shaker begins to frost, pour and enjoy!