Whether you take your martinis shaken or stirred, one thing’s for sure, these days you are taking them at home. And that’s ok! While social distancing, it’s the perfect time to brush up on your own bartending skills. Bring back the 5 o’clock cocktail hour and try mixing up one of these unique martinis, or should we say Quarantinis, straight from the menus of L.A.’s hottest bars.
Tigermom Fifty-Fifty Martini from Big Bar
We are missing Big Bar, big time! The intimate cocktail den of Los Feliz’s Alcove is helmed by Cari Hah, one of our favorite faces in the biz. During lockdown, she is sharing her recipe for her signature Tigermom Fifty-Fifty Martini. “All I have been drinking, cocktail wise, at home are martinis,” she says. “As a bonus, you can even make a big batch of this and add the correct amount of water to dilute the volume of cocktail batch by 18% and throw it in a bottle in the fridge, so you don’t even have to stir over ice when you want a martini. Cheers and stay healthy!”
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Sipsmith Gin
1 oz Miro Dry Vermouth
0.5 oz Fino Sherry
2 drops Miracle Mile Yuzu Bitters
Stir til 19% dilution and strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a light lemon twist over the top. Olive optional.
1927 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027; alcovecafe.com/bigbar; @bigbaralcove
Cucumber Del Rey from Café del Rey
You may have to miss out on the gorgeous marina views for a few weeks, but you can bring the best of Café del Rey bar program home. Their signature Cucumber del Rey cocktail is refreshing, delicious and simple enough to make in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Ingredients:
Hendrick’s Gin
White Cranberry
Cucumber
Lime
4451 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, cafedelreymarina.com, @cafe_del_rey
Chocolate Kiss from Hotel Shangri-La
Indulge your sweet tooth while wearing sweatpants. Pucker up and prepare yourself a Chocolate Kiss, Hotel Shangri-La’s take on a classic chocolate martini, found on the menu of the iconic hotel rooftop bar and restaurant Dining Room.
Ingredients:
1 oz Chocolate Flavored Vodka
.5 oz Baileys Irish Cream
.5 oz Frangelico
.5 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
.5 Kahlua
Chocolate Syrup
Fill shaker with ice and add all liquid ingredients. Shake well and pour into a martini glass that has been drizzled with chocolate syrup. Grate a Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss over the cocktail for garnish.
1301 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, shangrila-hotel.com, @hotelshangrila
The Martini from Musso & Frank Grill
Cocktails don’t get more classic than the Martini made by Manny Aguirre at Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood. Open since 1919, Musso & Frank has seen its fair share of famous faces from Charlie Chaplin to F. Scott Fitzgerald to Johnny Depp. Now is the perfect time to sip Hollywood history from the comfort of your own home.
Ingredients:
2.5 oz Gin
.5 oz Vermouth
Stirred with ice and strained into a cocktail glass. Served with an olive garnish.
6667 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, Mussoandfrank.com, @mussoandfrankgrill
The Emperor’s Tea from Katana
Using vodka and sweet vermouth, The Emperor’s Tea is a rich and unexpected take on a classic martini. The Dynasty-worthy drink includes exotic extra such as chai bitters and star anise.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Guillotine Heritage Barrel-Aged Vodka
.75 oz. Sweet Vermouth
.25 oz. Cacao Liqueur
5 Dashes Chai Bitters
1 Dash Chocolate Bitters
Star Anise To Garnish
8439 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, katanarobata.com, @katanarobata
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