Vodka Kiss: A Chocolate Vodka and Strawberry Martini
Vodka Kiss: a chocolate martini cocktail.
This vodka martini takes a little work, but the end result is well worth it
If you haven't yet tried my recipe for making delicious chocolate-infused vodka at home, then this martini recipe may give you a little more inspiration.
Too many chocolate martini recipes are overly sweet and cream based, relying on liqueurs to provide the flavors and complexity to the drink. The Vodka Kiss is different. It's an all-natural made-at-home vodka martini cocktail that delivers an exceptional blast of flavor.
The ingredients list is pretty simple, but you have to make a couple of the ingredients from scratch to really get the bursts of flavor you'll only find from fresh strawberries and home-infused vodka. The splash of Cointreau helps to even out the flavor profile and add a little complexity.
The Vodka Kiss requires a little effort, but the end result is worth it.
Ingredients for a Vodka Kiss Martini
2 oz chocolate vodka (chocolate vodka recipe here)
1 oz fresh strawberry syrup (recipe below)
1/4 oz Cointreau
Garnish with a Hershey's Kiss chocolate (Hershey chocolate is also used to make the chocolate vodka) and a fresh strawberry.
To make a Vodka Kiss martini, simply combine the vodka, strawberry syrup and Cointreau in a cocktail mixing glass with ice and stir for 30 seconds to give it a good chill. Strain it into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry on a cocktail skewer.
How to Make Fresh Strawberry Syrup
There's no substitute for making fresh strawberry syrup at home. I treat craft cocktails the same way I treat any recipe, so using fresh ingredients elevates your drink to the next level. Adjust the amounts below for additional drinks, but this will provide you with enough strawberry syrup for two Vodka Kiss martinis
Chocolate vodka, fresh strawberry syrup and a hint of orange.
What you will need:
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries (cut each one into four)
1/2 cup water (distilled/RO/bottled)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Begin by putting the water and strawberries (in that order) into a blender and blend until you get a smooth mixture.
Pour the mixture into a small saucepan, add the sugar and bring it to a simmer. Let it simmer for seven to 10 minutes until the mixture has thickened a little (but not too much).
Strain the mixture to remove any big strawberry pieces that may remain and then pour into a container to chill in the refrigerator. Once it's chilled, it's ready to go.
The Vodka Kiss is one of my favorite creations. It takes a little effort to get the ingredients together, but it's a good project for any home bartender and the chocolate vodka will have many great uses beyond this cocktail.
By Mike Belobradic
Wine, Spirits and Beer Virtuoso
Grand One Lounge