White Creme Brulee Martini is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

While at the Melting Pot with my sister a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to try out a White Creme Brulee Martini (as well as the dessert version, the Creme Brulee Fondue) – a delicious and very indulgent dessert martini.

Some restaurants are finicky about giving out their recipes, but I was able to read the menu and find that they made their Creme Brulee Martini with Stoli Vodka, Monin, and ice cream. With that information, I was able to find a similar recipe on the Monin website.

creme brulee martini

• .5 oz White Chocolate Sauce
• 3/4 oz Monin Creme Brulee Syrup
• 1 oz Rum or Stoli Vanila Vodka (or Vanilla vodka)
• 1 1/3 oz Cream or Ice Cream

Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour into glass.

The Melting Pot version was a martini glass rimmed with graham cracker crumbs, which was delicious, but you could also do a sugar rim.

If you cannot find Monin Creme Brulee syrup, I’ve also seen recipes that use Frangelico instead, combined with Stoli Vanilla and cream.

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Gingerbread Man Cocktail is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Bored of the cocktails you’ve been making over the holidays? Why not substitute your basic liquor for sake?

Sake is the oldest and purest beverage on the planet made from only four all natural ingredients:

• Pristine iron-free water
• Specialty sake rice
• Proprietary yeast
• Hand-made koji

Sake is sulfite free, tannin free, gluten free and preservative free.  TY KU Sake is a super premium grade junami ginjo (only 10 percent of all sakes in the world) and TY KU White is ultra premium junmai daiginjo (only is the top 5 percent sake grade in the world.) It just received the 6-Star Diamond Award.

TY KU Sake is best served chilled, breaking the stereotype that sake should be heated.

Gingerbread Martini

• TY KU Sake
• Gingerale
• Sprinkle of cinnamon

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French Kiss is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Spicy, sweet and sexy, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant has found the perfect match for singles, a Valentine’s cocktail sure to rival any box of chocolates. Available through Feb. 14, the French Kiss is a creamy concoction with spiced chocolate and raspberry, served in a chocolate-drizzled martini glass. The ideal ending to dinner, the French Kiss won’t expect a call the next day.

French Kiss Drink Recipe

RA Sushi: French Kiss

• 3/4 oz Godiva White Chocolate liqueur
• 3/4 oz Godiva Dark Chocolate liqueur
• 1/2 oz Ketel One Vodka
• 1/2 oz Captain Morgan
• 3/4 oz Chambord

Pour all ingredients into a martini shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass drizzled with chocolate sauce. Garnish with a fresh strawberry on the rim.

About RA Sushi

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant, an upbeat, unconventional sushi bar, opened its first location in Old Town Scottsdale in October 1997. RA is best known for successfully combining distinctive sushi with a trendy, hip atmosphere. Fresh sushi is served to order along with outstanding Japanese-fusion cuisine in a fun, lively environment. The result is a place that is both unpretentious and fashionable. Lunch and dinner are served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and the bar is open until 1 a.m. or later. Happy Hour food and beverage specials are offered Monday through Saturday, 3 to 7 p.m.

RA has 25 locations across the country. Enjoy RA Sushi in Arizona (Ahwatukee, Mesa, North Scottsdale, South Scottsdale, Tempe and Tucson); California (Chino Hills, Corona, Huntington Beach, San Diego, Torrance and Tustin); Florida (Palm Beach Gardens, Pembroke Pines and South Miami); Georgia (Atlanta); Illinois (Chicago, Glenview and Lombard); Kansas (Leawood); Maryland (Baltimore); Nevada (Las Vegas); and Texas (two Houston locations and Plano). Look for RA on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. For more information visit RA online at www.RAsushi.com.

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Red Velvet Martini is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Carefree Station in Carefree, Arizona, has put a twist on the infamous Valentine’s Day dessert with a Red Velvet Martini. Chocolaty, creamy and perfectly sweet, a deep red raspberry liqueur makes this cocktail as pleasing to look at as it is to drink.

The Red Velvet Martini will be available at Carefree Station through Valentine’s Day, February 14. If you’re not in Arizona, you may want to add this recipe to your “Must Make” cocktail list.

Red Velvet Martini Recipe

Carefree Station Red Velvet Martini

• .5 oz Van Gough Dutch Chocolate Vodka
• .5 oz Stoli Vanilla Vodka
• .5 oz Chateau Monet Framboise Raspberry Liqueur
• Splash of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

Pour all ingredients into a martini shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar and drizzled with white chocolate and raspberry sauce.

For more information about Carefree Station, visit www.carefreestation.com, follow on Twitter @CarefreeStation or call 480-488-8182.

About Carefree Station:

A popular gathering spot in the Carefree community since 2004, Carefree Station Grill & Bar is a charming indoor/outdoor restaurant located in The Spanish Village. Specializing in Carefree Cuisine, the menu offerings at Carefree Station combine bold flavors with the influences of Southwestern, a little Mexican and whatever we like. Taking advantage of the spectacular views and great weather, plenty of outdoor seating is available either on the cozy covered atrium, romantic tree-lit garden, or scenic rooftop bar, BevHeaven.

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Vodka 14 Winter Cocktails is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

Vodka 14, a certified organic vodka that is distilled in the Rocky Mountains, has created four delicious cocktails for the winter season, highlighting flavors that are perfect for Valentine’s day or just a quiet night at home.

If you’re interested in organic cocktails, I highly suggest checking out the Vodka 14 website – they go into great detail about the requirements and process liquors must go through to be considered organic. If you’re not interested, you should still try Vodka 14 in these cocktails

February 14er
Combine 3oz Vodka 14 and 1.5oz Ficklin’s Chocolate Passport (a dark chocolate infused port) with ice in a martini shaker and shake. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with an unwrapped Hershey’s Cherry Cordial Kiss on long toothpick.

Organic Cosmo 14 from Vodka 14

Organic Classic Cosmo 14
The classic cosmopolitan is a cocktail that exudes sexy style to the last deep red drop. To craft your own organic version, mix together 3oz of Vodka 14, .5oz organic orange juice, and 2oz of organic cranberry juice. Add a squeeze of fresh lime and shake on ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnished with a twist of lime.

Pomegranate and Mint 14
Pomegranate gives this cocktail a lovely pink color, and a uniquely intriguing flavor. Vigorously shake 3 oz Vodka 14 and 2oz fresh extracted pomegranate juice on ice in a martini shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh pomegranate and a generous sprig of fresh mint.

Pomegranate and Mint Martini from Vodka 14

Fire and Ice 14
Ignite some passion with this tantalizingly spicy cocktail: infuse a whole 750 ml bottle of Vodka 14 with fresh multi-colored Thai peppers by simply inserting them directly into the bottle. Allow to steep at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. Shake 3 ounces of the infused vodka on ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a long whole red Thai pepper.

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Cocktails at Toast Birmingham: Blueberry Margarita, Strawberry Basil Martini, Polar Bear Martini, and more! is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

After moving back to Michigan from fun cities like San Francisco and Las Vegas, I led myself to believe that vacations or home bartending sessions would be the only way to discover exciting, innovative, and tasty cocktails. Luckily, I’ve been proven wrong and – delightfully – found that Michigan has a few hidden gems when it comes to cocktails. Yes, Michigan has a great (and growing in popularity) wine industry, but I’ve found that it also has some humble restaurateurs and mixologists that are seriously good at their craft.

During a tour of metro Detroit dining establishments last week, I was introduced to Toast in Birmingham. I sampled black truffle risotto balls, wild mushroom pastries, smoked salmon, and carnita chicken tacos, all of which were delicious. The food was incredible, but the real reason I had accepted an invitation to Toast was to sample their cocktail menu.

Mimosa flights. Kool-aid rimmed martini glasses. Fresh fruit bellinis. Plum vodka.

Drooling yet?

Toast Birmingham: Bartenders making the Strawberry Basil Martini

The cocktail menu at Toast was long and filled with unique drinks, and I fortunately had the opportunity to sample a variety of their signature cocktails. The bartenders at Toast are extremely friendly and easy to talk to, and they seem as though they love their job – they’re constantly coming up with new cocktails.

If you’re in Michigan and have a chance to stop by Toast, I’d highly recommend it ($2 Taco Tuesday’s and a White Grape Martini make for a perfect girl’s night out or happy hour). If you’re not in Michigan and just want to try the drinks out on your own, Toast has been gracious enough to provide a few of the recipes:

Toast Birmingham Polar Bear Martini

The Polar Bear Martini

• 1.5 oz Vanilla Stoli
• .5 oz Frangelico
• .5 oz White Godiva Liqueur

Blueberry Margarita

• 2 oz Sauza
• 1 oz Citr?nge (can substitute Cointreau or Triple Sec)
• Dash Sour Mix
• Prosecco
• Blueberries

Muddle blueberries and add to highball or margarita glass. Add sauza tequila, citronge, and sour mix in?separate?glass; shake well and pour into glass with muddled blueberries. Top off with prosecco.

Strawberry Basil Martini

• Muddled strawberries
• Basil
• Simple Syrup
• Zodiac Vodka

Toast Birmingham: Blueberry Margarita

Ultimate White Grape Martini

• Ciroc Vodka
• White Grape Juice
• Grape Sugar Rimmed Glass *grape kool-aid mixed with sugar

Your Number

• Pearl Plum Vodka
• Three Olives Vanilla Vodka
• Pama Liqueur
• Lemonade
• 7-Up

Make Me Something Good

• Three Olives Bubble Vodka
• Zodiac Black Cherry Vodka
• Grenadine
• Sour Mix
• 7-Up

Additional?Links

• Toast Birmingham web site
• Toast Reviews on Yelp!
• Toast Birmingham on Twitter

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I’m Chuck Bass: Gossip Girl Cocktails from The Empire Hotel is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

I jumped on the Gossip Girl bandwagon late, but I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a fan. Luckily, I’m not alone in my fascination with the GC characters – grown women flock to The Empire Hotel, the hotel shown as the property in which Chuck Bass had invested in.

The Empire Hotel has taken advantage of the attention it’s receiving from Gossip Girl fans and has gone and created a cocktail menu centered around the show’s characters. From the “I’m Chuck Bass” to the “XOXO” cocktail, each drink was carefully concocted by cocktail consultant Somer Perez to match the characteristics of the show and it’s characters.

Gossip Girl Cocktails as served at The Empire Hotel

“S”

Zyr Vodka, Honey Water, Champagne and Lemon Pappabubbles.

“Sweet and pouty with tangy honeyed bubbles, an irresistible treat”

“B”

Bluecoat Gin, Blood Orange Bitters and Crystal Candy

“Outwardly fabulous, inwardly deceiving. Not for the faint-hearted. Her bittersweet venom is addictive but always leaves a sting”

Gossip Girl Cocktails

I’m Chuck Bass

Dewar’s Scotch, Red Apple, Ginger Bites and Apple Cider

“Starts out sour, turns sweet… Ends with a kick. You’ll find it surprisingly captivating”

Lonely Boy

Brooklyn Lager, Makers Mark Bourbon and Crème de Cacao

“Bold and pure, complicated yet simple. From Brooklyn beginnings his star is on the rise”

Georgina’s Mind Eraser

Vieux Carré  Absinthe Wash, Don Julio Silver Tequila, Pomegranate and an Atomic Fireball

“Dangerously delicious and surprisingly strong, this one leaves a mark”

Nate’s Fickle Flings

Sagatiba Cachaça, St-Germain and Sour Blackberries

“Fresh, sweet and tart – redheads, blondes and brunettes fill his little black book”

Jenny’s Tartlet

Montecristo White Rum, Mint, Ruby Red Grapefruit and a Lollipop

“Sweet yet pushy, she packs a zingy punch. She’ll take the limelight at any cost… Kids these days”

Eau de Vanessa

Grey Goose Le Poire, Pear Nectar and White Grape Juice

“Light and natural, something about her keeps you coming back for more…”

XOXO

“I’ll never tell”

This drink is all secret ingredients

Additonal Information:

• The Empire Hotel
• Gossip Girl
• The Gossip About Gossip Girl
• Somer Perez

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XRated Fusion is a post from: Girly Drinks. Check out more ice wine and martini recipes.

XRated French Kiss

Last month, I had the opportunity to try out X Rated Fusion, a blend of ultra premium French vodka and blood oranges, mangoes and passion fruit. X Rated Fusion happens to be the counterpart to one of my favorite go-to vodkas, X Rated Vodka.

While I had tried X Rated Fusion in a few recipes at restaurants (at The Melting Pot, of course) and mixed with champagne, I had never experimented with recipes on my own.

With the bottle of X Rated Fusion I received, I started out with making an X Rated French Kiss (pictured at left). I then tried it on it’s own (amazing over ice), mixed with Sprite, and as a mixture with just vodka.

X Rated Fusion is a MUST HAVE in any girly drinker’s liquor cabinet.

X Rated French Kiss

• 1.5 pt XRated fusion
• 1.5 pt vodka (X Rated Vodka, Skyy, or any premium vodka)
• Drizzle glass with raspberry liqueur (I didn’t have any raspberry liqueur so I used a sample of Acai Black Currant syrup – Hibisca or any other syrup would also be great for different versions of this drink).

Not in the mood for a French Kiss? Try out one of these fun, girly drinks made with X Rated Fusion:

Passion Punch

• 2 parts X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
• 1 parts SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit
• 0.5 parts Passion Fruit of Mango Puree (or orange juice)

Top with Champagne, serve in a flute.

Pink Fusion (originally served at Carlucci Lombard, Chicago)

• 1 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
• 1 oz. SKYY Infusions Citrus
• Splash of Fresh Lemonade

Top with Champagne, serve in martini glass with lemon twist.

For more X Rated Recipes, check out the X Rated Fusion website. You can also become a fan of X Rated Fusion on Facebook to get new recipes. We’ll be posting some fun Valentine’s Day recipes using X Rated Fusion in the next few weeks, so check back soon!

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