Tuesday Tipple - Lime Balalaika

 

History Lesson: The Balalaika cocktail is named for an instrument with three strings, just as the cocktial has three ingredients.  Traditonally these are lemon juice. vodka and cointreau.  The version with lime juice is generally called a Kamikaze, but I prefer the old fashioned name. 
It sounds.... classier.

Ready?  First gather your ingredients

1 shot Lime Juice
1 shot Vodka
1 shot Triple Sec (or other orange-y liqueur like Cointreau)
Handful of ice cubes.

As with most of my cocktails, shake it all together in a cocktail shaker until everything is ice cold.  Pour into a martini glass.  Garnish with a lime twist.  See here for an easy lime twist tutorial.

And Taa-Daah! The delicious finished product.

Tuesday Tipple - Marie Antoinette

Since this is my first attempt at blogging a cocktail recipe, I decided to keep it simple and attempt a version of a French Martini that I saw in a cocktail menu once. I love the tartness of the pineapple and sweetness of the raspberries in a traditional French, and I figured champagne can only help that right?


So first thing, gather your ingredients

Don't you love my cocktail shaker? It's was a Christmas gift from my brother and sister in law.

1 1/2 shot pineapple juice (don't be fancy - the canned Golden Circle stuff is the bomb)
1 shot vodka
1/2 shot chambord
Splash triple sec (or any orange-y liqueur)
Ice cubes
Splash of champagne
Raspberries on a toothpick for garnish

Pop all ingredients bar champagne and garnish in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until icy cold. Strain into a martini glass. Take a sip if its looking a little full and then pop in a splash of champagne to fill the glass. Put some raspberries on a toothpick to garnish.

I love these martini glasses. M bought them for me for valentines one year. I like a sturdy stem when I'm drinking as I tend to be quite clumsy.

Enjoy!