Candy Cane Martini

This one has been in the works for a while, but I never seem to be able to find the mini candy canes I want for garnish until Christmas season. So, here it is...

• 2 oz Vanilla Vodka
• 2 oz Rumplemintz
• 1/2 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
• 6 drops of Grenadine
• 2 Crushed Mini Candy Canes
• 1 Whole Mini Candy Cane 

Chill an up glass with crushed ice and water. Wet the glass edge and rim it with the crushed candy canes. Add the rest of the ingredients along with a few pinches of the crushed candy canes and shake with ice in a shaker until it sweats. Strain into the glass. Garnish with a mini candy cane and more sprinkles of the crushed candy cane.

Christmas Tree Martini

After discovering Skinos Greek Liqueur on my last trip to Surdyk's, I was excited to find another bottle that was very much pine tree flavored. This martini is quite similar to the Gunflint Martini, but more pine flavored and less wintery. In this case, the mint providing a more subtle aftertaste than the strong Rumplemintz and adds a fresh green color.

Given the Douglas Fir infused brandy from Clear Creek Distillery is proven so hard to find, I think this new Skinos liqueur makes a very good replacement in that martini as well.

• 3 oz Skinos Mastiha Spirit Liqueur
• 2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
• Splash of Creme De Menthe
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• Sprig of Pine Branch

Chill an up glass with crushed ice and water. Shake all liquid ingredients with ice in a shaker until it sweats and strain into the glass. Garnish with the pine sprig. (In this case, stolen from the Christmas tree.)