In Search of the Best Martini!

[tarheelmjfan]

DH & I have been on 3 Celebrity cruises in the last year. They have a fabulous martini bar, & we've kind of gotten hooked. We're not looking for straight martinis (blech). We're looking for French, Chocolate, etc. martinis. The kind wimpy people drink. So, where's the best martinis at UO served, & which do you like best? Cheers!

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

I would also like to know!

 

[robvia]

Good question. I will say that each park has 3 bars, and happy hour usually starts at 4pm. I'm sure they can whip up something for you.

 

[Seahag]

mmmmmmmm, the Velvet Lounge in the Hard Rock hotel ~ great selection - the raspberry pop rock one was REAL good, but they have a chocolate one that knocked my socks off!!!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Another vote for the Velvet Lounge at HRH. The appletini DH & I had there was our "first" AFA martinis. Very, very good. If I recall, there was a writeup in the Orlando paper about their martinis a few years back (very positive).

Not sure if it's only martinis you're interested in or all "tasty beverages" as we call them, but the hurricanes over at O'Bryans are positively wicked. Well worth the $$$ considering the buzz from just one. We've done two before, but we pay for it the next day...we often do Epcot the next day since it's quiet and slow. By the time we get to the World Showcase, we're ready for a lil' hair of the dog

Our last visit, we tried some bloody marys at NBA with premium vodka (Grey Goose). We were a bit dissapointed as they were very small and about 25 bucks with a tip for two. I think we may have just ordered the wrong drink there, because I see some have posted about their martinis being awesome. We will try a martini next time at NBA.

Mojitos are our new find. I'd personally like to see if they have them around the Latin Quarter.

Cheers

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Since we're staying at HRH, the Velvet Lounge will be very convenient. I'll have to try a raspberry pop rock, just to see if it's as good as you say. I've tried a hurricane, & I'm just too big of a wimp for those. I didn't even drink half of it, & felt horrible the next day. They're definitely wicked! I've never tried a Mojito. What's it like?

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I've never tried a Mojito. What's it like?

It's high in calories/sugar if you're watching those things. It's sort of sweet and sour. It's wonderful when it's hot outside. We love them on Sunday afternoons grilling out by the pool. It's very hard for me to taste the rum, although I only use one ounce of rum per drink.

Here's the recipe I use. Plan to get a little sticky while making them

http://www.webtender.com/db/drink/1435

It's a Cuban drink, I believe. I lived in Miami for 20+ years, and it wasn't until I moved to Jacksonville that I even heard of these. Go figure. Better late than never, eh?

P.S. Don't use tonic if you try them. Make sure to get soda water. I never realized there was a difference!

 

[simpilotswife]

The Hard Rock Cafe has a very nice Caramel Martini. Lately I am partial to Dirty Martinis.

 

[GetGlowing]

A mojito is a combination of rum, lime juice, mint, and sugar. VERY YUMMY.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We'll have to try a Mojito. It doesn't get much easier than that. The Caramel Martini sounds good. I'll have to keep that in mind, when we dine at HRC to take the Backstage Tour. We love chocolate martinis. I can't handle dirty martinis though.

 

[oybolshoi]

Although I haven't had an opportunity to try it (yet) I've been told that Emeril's serves a fabulous canteloupe martini.

I'm planning on trying one later this month!

 

[rejobako]

Our last visit, we tried some bloody marys at NBA with premium vodka (Grey Goose). We were a bit dissapointed as they were very small and about 25 bucks with a tip for two.

I don't think it's worth it to order an ultra-premium vodka for a mixed drink, especially for something like a bloody mary. After you add the tomato juice, worstershire, tabasco, salt, pepper, lime, etc., I can't taste the difference between Grey Goose and Smirnoff.

I agree with you on Mojitos though. When made properly, they are the perfect warm-weather concoction.

I've become too good a bartender at home, I guess. I'm typically disappointed when someone else makes my drinks. I prefer the old-school martini made with either Chopin vodka or Bombay gin, a twist (no olive), and just a drop of Vermouth. The key to the drink is that it has to be crackling ice cold.

My wife goes for more of the frou frou stuff, and these days I sometimes make her something that tastes great, but also is the coolest looking drink ever.

Start by mixing equal parts Ketel One (or any other mid-range good vodka) with Rose's sweet and sour mix. Shake with ice and strain it into a martini glass. Then take a shotglass full of Chambord (a french raspberry liqueur) and pour it down the side of the martini glass so it layers at the bottom of the glass without mixing. Then add a fresh raspberry as a garnish. It's way too sweet for my taste, but chicks (pardon the chauvanism) love it, and it's got a great 2-tone layered look that makes it a great "special occasion" drink.

Sorry for rambling, but I really enjoy the art of good bartending, and when I go out somewhere that charges me $12 or so for a premium cocktail, I think some care should go into making it properly.

 

[rejobako]

We'll have to try a Mojito. It doesn't get much easier than that.

The ingredients are simple, but it makes a big difference how they're put together. Some places will just put a shot of rum into a glass of ice, add some sugar, throw in couple drops of lime juice, a mint sprig and top it off with club soda. You'll typically get a sweet but bland result.

If you go somewhere with a good bartender, he/she will take a mortar and pestle, put in some simple syrup, mint sprigs, and a fresh half of a lime, and muddle the whole thing together so the mint leaves get slightly torn and so the mint flavor blends into the entire drink. Then the entire mixture, including the half of the lime, gets poured in with the rum and ice. Then to make the drink look nice, another fresh mint sprig gets added to the top for a garnish.

Be careful with these. They go down very smooth, very quick, and they pack a punch.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Oybolshoi,
Let us know what you think of the canteloupe martini. Emeril's was where I tried my 1st martini out of curiosity. It was the traditional kind & is all I can say. Not for me!!! I never tried another one, until our Nov. cruise, & now I know all martinis aren't created equally. I don't know, if this discovery was a good or bad thing.


rejobako,
We only average drinking at home every couple of months. Even less, when we're out. It looks like we're going to have to up the frequency to try all those listed here. The drink you make for your wife sounds wonderful. I'm definitely going to have DH mix up some of those. Sorry, but the kind you make for yourself sounds nasty. The recipe PlutoLvr provided for Mojitos looks really easy & like it would mix the ingredients sufficiently. It almost sounds like an iced lemonade. I can see why it needs a "warning" attached. I've found the same is true for chocolate martinis. My DH mixes them so smooth & yummy that it's easy to overdo. Lesson learned in that case.

 

[rejobako]

Sorry, but the kind you make for yourself sounds nasty.

LOL! They're definitely an acquired taste, but when I'm in the mood for cocktails typically I like the cold, bracing, clean taste of a good vodka or aromatic gin with no adornment.

When I'm in the mood for something a little sweeter, I'll lighten up on the vodka and mix in about a half ounce each of sweet vermouth and Campari. It's still a strong drink, but noticeably sweet/bitter. Makes you wanna pucker up in more ways than one. It's also a beautiful drink when you put it into a classic martini glass -- very translucent burnt red color.

Speaking of drink colors, this is slightly off topic, but if you like gin/vodka tonics, they're a good drink to have at most Halloween parties, because the quinine in the tonic reacts to black-light. Looks like you're drinking something ghostly or radioactive.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I don't think it's worth it to order an ultra-premium vodka for a mixed drink, especially for something like a bloody mary. After you add the tomato juice, worstershire, tabasco, salt, pepper, lime, etc., I can't taste the difference between Grey Goose and Smirnoff.

I agree with you on Mojitos though. When made properly, they are the perfect warm-weather concoction.

I've become too good a bartender at home, I guess. I'm typically disappointed when someone else makes my drinks. I prefer the old-school martini made with either Chopin vodka or Bombay gin, a twist (no olive), and just a drop of Vermouth. The key to the drink is that it has to be crackling ice cold.

My wife goes for more of the frou frou stuff, and these days I sometimes make her something that tastes great, but also is the coolest looking drink ever.

Start by mixing equal parts Ketel One (or any other mid-range good vodka) with Rose's sweet and sour mix. Shake with ice and strain it into a martini glass. Then take a shotglass full of Chambord (a french raspberry liqueur) and pour it down the side of the martini glass so it layers at the bottom of the glass without mixing. Then add a fresh raspberry as a garnish. It's way too sweet for my taste, but chicks (pardon the chauvanism) love it, and it's got a great 2-tone layered look that makes it a great "special occasion" drink.

Sorry for rambling, but I really enjoy the art of good bartending, and when I go out somewhere that charges me $12 or so for a premium cocktail, I think some care should go into making it properly.

Hey, Rejo, you Epcot drinkin' expert you (I did print & file your instructions, BTW DH is most excited about returning after reading your colorful instructions.)

I full on agree with you about the taste factor with premium versus non in a drink like a bloody mary, but the hangover factor is what guides me when I plan on having several. At home, one bloody mary with Smirnoff is fine, but I just don't seem to get a hangover with Grey Goose after several drinks. I've also just become braver about asking for the price differential on premium versus non when out. Surprisingly, some of our really upscale trendy bars are only charging a buck or two more for premium during, say, happy hour.

Mmmm..all this talk of Mojitos! I planted mint seeds last week in pots in the yard, and they just can't grow soon enough!

Your froo-froo drink sounds similar to DH's & my "christmas tasty beverage." It's actually called two alligators, um, blanking (you fill in the blank), but it's got coconut rum instead of vodka. Turns out color-wise just like yours. It's real pretty during the holidays with the green and red.

Cheers, Dude

 

[tarheelmjfan]

rejobako,
My DH wants to know what amount of each ingredient you use in the raspberry drink. BTW, we could use some tutelage from an Epcot drinking expert. Our personal Epcot favorite is Inniskillen Ice Wine. We always take it along on cruises. It's get us lots of attention from the sommeliers & cellar master.

 

[oybolshoi]

rejobako,
My DH wants to know what amount of each ingredient you use in the raspberry drink. BTW, we could use some tutelage from an Epcot drinking expert. Our personal Epcot favorite is Inniskillen Ice Wine. We always take it along on cruises. It's get us lots of attention from the sommeliers & cellar master.

Tarheelmjfan - if you like ice wine you need to try an ice wine martini! My hubby makes these so I'm not sure of the exact measurements, but he usually does 1 ounce of ice wine mixed with 2 ounes of really good vodka (we like Cirroc but Grey Goose works nicely, too). The trick to this is figuring out how sweet you want your drink...a little ice wine goes a long way.

Try it some time - I think you'll like it!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Tarheelmjfan - if you like ice wine you need to try an ice wine martini! My hubby makes these so I'm not sure of the exact measurements, but he usually does 1 ounce of ice wine mixed with 2 ounes of really good vodka (we like Cirroc but Grey Goose works nicely, too). The trick to this is figuring out how sweet you want your drink...a little ice wine goes a long way.

Try it some time - I think you'll like it!

Yummy!!! We must try that! Ice Wine is our favorite alcoholic drink of any kind. It makes a very nice finale for a wonderful meal. If you get a chance to ask your DH the measurements, please let me know. Thanks

 

[rejobako]

Hey, Rejo, you Epcot drinkin' expert you (I did print & file your instructions, BTW DH is most excited about returning after reading your colorful instructions.)

Aw, shucks >>>>kicking dirty humbly<<<<<

Funny you mention the "cheap vodka hangover effect". I just read an article that suggested the same thing -- the better a vodka's filtered, the fewer impurities it has, which is where the hangovers usually come from. If I'm drinking a straight martini, I go with "the good stuff" like Chopin or Grey Goose, but if I'm mixing I've found two cheaper brands that are very smooth and don't cause any problems the next day -- one is Skyy, which you can find everywhere, and the other is "Olifant", which is a Dutch product that's harder to find but is just as good.