Martini Chat - Martini Recipes & Cocktail Culture

Martini your Mommy

Yes, Mothers Day is right around the corner, and we at www.martiniart.com have a couple of cool suggestions for gifts.  Time is of the essence!  We have this set in 3 different colors and the set is called Abstract.  There is Abstract orange, blue and green, and the set includes a pitcher and 2 glasses.  The "abstract" look is like a spiderweb of color on clear glass.  All are handmade and will have subtle differences, and definitely have an artistic feel.  These would be great sets sitting out for all to see, and would make moms favorite drink taste better!  So, have a look-www.martiniart.com.

Martini your Mommy

With Mothers Day approaching, we at www.martiniart.com thought that another publishing of the White Cosmopolitan was a good idea.  If you haven't had this martini yet, it is a crisper, fresher, version of a regular Cosmopolitan.  For Mothers Day, it could be served at brunch, or for afternoon cocktails.  Here is the recipe:

1 cup white cranberry juice

4 oz. vodka

2 oz Cointreau  (do not use Triple Sec!!)

Put all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake away.  Strain into a chilled martini glass, and serve immediately.  Here are a couple of ideas for garnishes; 1-garnish with an orange wedge, 2-float an orange slice in the glass, 3-drop a couple of mandarin oranges in the bottom of the glass, or 4-on a pick, put mandarin oranges with a maraschino cherry.  All of the garnishes are tasty and easy to nibble on.  Of course, depending on what garnish you choose, make sure your glass is appropriate for the garnish...for example, you don't want to drop mandarin oranges in the bottom of a martini glass, if the glass is colored or opaque, you may want a clear martini glass.  So, give mom a fresh and pretty martini on Mother Day.  Cheers!

Chill It Bags

Just in, at www.martiniart.com are the new Chill It Bags.  These bags, that are a chilled bag or even a gift bag, are perfect for taking your favorite spirit or wine to an event.  They are made of a flexible plastic that has colored liquid in a honeycomb design on the sides of the bag,and www.martiniart.com carries them in green, purple, red, blue, and yellow-gold.  You chill them, then carry your beverage of choice in style.  Perfect for Mothers Day, and even for Fathers Day!  They will hit the site in a few days, so check www.martiniart.com frequently!

The Recliners

Finally, martinis in the mosh pit have arrived to www. martiniart.com!  The Recliners are a U.S. based band that takes a musical genre and turns it into "lounge" music.  Say, The Sex Pistols, done as lounge music!  Rock, grunge, and disco that sounds like you just time warped into another dimension.  You're at a wedding and Aunt Faye is doing the funky chicken to something that you listened to in high school.  It's Bill Murray on Saturday Night Live from many years ago being a lounge singer.  I'm sure you get the idea-this stuff is great!  Martiniart.com currently sells the two cd's The Recliners have out, which are Cosa Caliente, and Raw Fish.  While it's easy to fall into the "dig those crazy tunes" mode, these guys are awesome musicians, and the music is perfect for your next cocktail party or bar-b-que...and you'll know the words!  Check out The Recliners cd's and have a listen at www. martiniart.com.

Martini your Mommy

Mothers Day is May 8th- not too far in the future.  We know there are many moms out there, and I bet that many of them like martinis!  I bet that along with the martinis, they like to have cool glasses and accessories to go with those martinis!  Www.martiniart.com has a plethora of really great martini and cocktail sets, along with many other things, but the set of the day today is the "Tortie Martini Set."  This set is hand made, features two glasses and a shaker, and is done in a tortoise shell color scheme.  The hand made part means that no two sets will be alike; they all have varying degrees of color, and the glasses have a nice heft to them, ie they are not delicate glasses.  The shaker is all glass, with the top part (strainer and cap) being stainless steel.  The set is $68.00, a steal for something hand made that exudes such style and fashion!  Yet, it is functional, too.  Don't forget that moms like martinis, so Martini your Mommy this year at www.martiniart.com.

Is it Spring yet? part 4

Music moves the world.  In preparation for your spring and summer beach, deck, backyard, or pool parties is music-you gotta have the right grooves for the moves!  At www.martiniart.com we have have a carefully edited and hand picked selection of music that is perfect for any bash that requires cool lounge or chill music.  It goes with cocktails, is danceable, and is great for ambiance when mingling.

A story comes to mind...we have a customer who will remain nameless and his bar will remain nameless because he won't tell anyone where he gets all this great music he plays because he doesn't want anyone to copy him.  I will say that his bar/pub is in London, England!  We at www.martiniart.com are flattered that he plays our selections, and so with that in mind, here are some of our lounge-y cd's that can offer that cool cocktail vibe:

Erotic Lounge (chilled sexy sounds)

Buddha Lounge Grooves (contemporary Asian lounge)

Tropical Lounge

The Chocolate Bar

Green Tea Lounge

Brazil Chill

Don't be fooled by the names!  These cd's have some great music!  As I type this, I am listening to Afterdark-Madrid.  (yes we sell this-some more shameless self promotion!)  Madrid is a few years old, but it still maintains that cool club vibe.  We know music is subjective, kind of like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we think we have a nice, well edited selection.  We also carry some standards from the 1940's and 50's-you know, that old school lounge.  Did I mention???  www.martiniart.com!

 

Margaritini Anyone?

For whatever reason, when I talk cocktails, drinks, or martinis with people, I am surprised at the number of people that stumble over martinis and margaritas.  I'm not sure why this is since the drinks are very different...it must be that they both begin with "m."  I found a way to bridge the gap!  It is a recipe for a margaritini, and I can't take credit for it myself, but found it on a cover of a cd, and the guys name that is getting the credit is Andy Norris.  Way to go Andy, now those that like margaritas, but like the cool style of a martini glass can have the best of both worlds.  Here's the recipe:

2 oz of Tesoro Silver Tequila

1 oz Cointreau

Splash of Margarita mix

Fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice in a shaker and strain into a martini glass.

Word from martinigirl-don't scrimp on the quality of ingredients!  Get a high end tequilla, don't sub Triple Sec for Cointreau, and use real live lime, not the kind from a plastic bottle!  If you haven't figured this out by now, this is just a version of a margarita, HOWEVER, a recipe does legitimize it!  And, when you need that shaker and totally spiffy martini glasses to go with those drinks, check us out at www.martiniart.com.

Is it Spring - Part 3

What the "h - e - double toothpicks" is going on with Mother Nature?  Even though the temperature has moved to above 20 degrees F, it's still chilly and rainy.  So, thoughts turn to warm weather, spring temperatures and enjoying a martini or 2 OUTSIDE!  We, at www.martiniart.com, put together a special "Vintage Martini Picnic Basket."  This should help turn thoughts to better weather days ahead!  This set is, first of all, one of a kind-you won't see it any place else.  Included are polycarbonite martini glasses and snack plates, a cocktail shaker in plastic, food containers, napkins, olive boats made of recylced content for olives, snacks, etc, a blanket, and a vase, so you can pick a couple of flowers to set the stage.  All of this comes in a really cool vintage picnic basket, that still bears the name of the original owner!  We only did a few cosmetic changes to the picnic basket to clean it up, but otherwise it's in perfect condition!  There is still room for you to add your personal touches, and we also included a corkscrew in case you needed another form of libation other than a martini!  All of the product included is great for outdoor use, and the set is "set up" for 2 people.  Stop by to www.martiniart.com, and check out the Vintage Martini Picnic Basket-it's on the homepage!

Euro Martini Bowls

Lately, one of the trends in glassware/drinkware has been the stemless glass.  You can see these in many restaurants and bars and also in many stores.  And by lately, we mean for the last 5-ish years.  So, not a new trend, but one that is really cool for a more casual look.  Also, for those that are "glass breakers," you don't have to worry about that elegant stem on a martini glass getting in your way of the table that you are trying to put your drink on!  At www.martiniart.com, we have the Euro Martini Bowl, which is another take on stemless glassware.  This is like a martini glass without the stem, and we have them in really great, fun colors with etching.  More are coming!  But, the versatility of the glass is like a "2 for 1," you get a really awesome martini glass, but they can also double as a dessert cup, or an appetizer server for something such as shrimp cocktail.  Check these glasses out at www.martiniart.com, and also check back, because new colors and styles are coming!

Spend $75-get free shipping!

We at Martiniart.com would like to take a few minutes of your time to talk about shipping-but first we wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone that has shopped with us!  We know that the product we sell is not a basic necessity...well maybe for some it is:)!!  When you spend $75, shipping is always free, unless you're out of the country.  We've had it this way for YEARS, and will continue to do so unless shipping costs rise drastically.  When you're shopping, and you're order is at $70, that extra 5 bucks spent could save you $12-15 in shipping costs.  Which leads me to talking about shipping; every now and then someone will come out with "you're shipping costs are too much."  We realize that on our receipt the shipping costs are tallied as "shipping and handling."  We don't charge a handling fee-that is the format our receipts are in.  We are not the only company who uses this particular host, so the format is set for all.  However, shipping prices have steadily risen over the years, and we held off the last couple of year and didn't raise prices.  This year we had to, the rise in prices from UPS and USPS (since we use both of them) has been really something that we couldn't avoid.  To sum it all up, we're not gaining anything with shipping, and again, if you are shopping, make it worthwhile and spend that $75 to get free shipping at www.martiniart.com.