Cocktails! Rockin' Lemon Drop Martinis & After-Dinner Dessert Chocotinis

On my last day of vacation, my best friend Tayler and I frequented a few speciality shops as I was determined to return from America's Dairyland with a generous supply of local cheeses, and other various gifts. During our shopping extravaganza we stumbled upon some bottles of ChocoVine- The taste of dutch chocolate and red wine. I had tried this concoction once before and was reminded of my urge to use it in a chocolate martini. Tayler was instantly game so we picked up a bottle and added dessert drinks to our list of events for the evening.  

As far as the lemon drops were concerned; I myself am an avid fan of Gin, but for the sake of doing something different I decided to indulge in one of Tayler's favorite cocktails- The Lemon Drop Martini. However, with one small change: I've been dying to put pop rocks on a martini ever since I first fell in love with the idea while visiting my old roommate in Salem, Massachusetts. Now I can finally say I have officially succeeded! Taking a note from Tayler's Lemon Drop expertise, these martinis are made with a turbinado sugar and agave simple syrup, rendering them slightly less sweet but equally as delicious!

Rockin' Lemon Drop Martinis

• Simple Syrup-
• Dissolve 1 tsp of turbinado sugar and 1 tsp of agave in 2 oz Hot Water. Sweeten if needed until desired taste is achieved. Let cool. 
• 1 1/2 Oz Citron Vodka
• Ice Cubes
• 1 Packet Pop Rocks, whichever flavor you so desire
• 1 Lemon, cut into wedges
• Martini Shaker and Martini Glass

*Fill a martini shaker with ice. Add 1 shot of the simple syrup and the vodka. Shake well. Squeeze in 2 lemon wedges and shake. Pour the pop rocks onto a small plate. Trace the rim of the martini glass with a lemon wedge, and then dip the edges of the glass into the pop rocks, coating the entire rim. Add the remaining pop rocks to the bottom of the glass. Give the martini shaker one more shake and pour over the pop rocks. Garnish with a lemon wedge. 

If you are having trouble getting the pop rocks to stick, try lining the rim of the glass with simple syrup! 

This next drink was formally cultivated by Miss Tayler Sipe, and let me tell you, sweet tooth or not, it is quite divine!

ChocoVine Chocotinis

• 1 1/2 Oz ChocoVine Chocolate Wine 
• 1 1/2 Oz Vodka
• 3/4 Oz (or 1/2 Shot glass) French Vanilla Kahlua
• 3/4 Oz Milk or Cream
• Blend: 1 tsp Cocoa Powder with 1/2 tsp Fine Sugar, and a dash of cinnamon
• Martini Shaker and Martini Glass
• Ice Cubes
• Simple Syrup 

*Fill a Martini Shaker with ice. Add the ChocoVine, vodka, Kahlua, and Milk. Shake well. Coat the edges of a martini glass with simple syrup and then rim with cocoa and sugar blend. (Follow the same steps as above coating the edges). Pour the mix from the martini shaker into the glass and sprinkle the remaining cocoa blend across the top. 

And there you have it! Two Cocktails, two varying degrees of sweetness, and two easy ways to dress up any occasion! 

Each recipe makes one Martini.

Enjoy :] 

<3 Marea