Martinis seem to be back in fashion: Whether the buzzy and trendy espresso martini or the laidback ease of the apple martini, or even just the reverance for the sophisticated glassware, this classic cocktail is completely contemporary. In revisiting the drink, we suggest taking a good sip of the chocolate martini, which manages to bring dessert right into a glass.
Shaken, Not Stirred: Our Chocolate Martini
As legend would have it, one night after filming in the vast Texan desert, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson got into the business of mixing…Drinks that is! The story goes that the pair of Hollywood legends were looking to combine their mutual loves of desserts and drinking. With a bit of vodka, liqueur, and good drizzle of chocolate syrup, the chocolate martini went Hollywood.
We admit, the chocolate martini seems, at first glance, like an anamoly. Why sully a sophisticated martini with the childishness of a Hershey’s chocolate drizzle? And yet, first taste will convince you that there is a simple genius to this recipe. So much so, in fact, that we argue that it was a bit of an inevitability. It’s no secret that in the U.S. chocolate has long been enjoyed as a drink, whether in childhood’s chocolate milks or winter’s hot chocolates. In fact, chocolate drink enjoyment actually reaches all the way back to ancient Olmecs of Mesoamerica who are believed to have brewed a fermented cacao drink as early as 1500 BCE.
Meanwhile, the martini, also an invention of the Americas, has been a drink that comes with a lot of playroom. It’s been ordered in so many different ways: dirty, wet, dry, and as noted above, espresso and apple. That’s just to name a few! Given the illustrious nature of both the chocolate and martini, we would say that really this cocktail captures the beauty and history of drinking.
Of course, in the spirit of adaptability, we encourage you to play with this cocktail to your heart’s content! Opting for a vanilla vodka would add a refreshing aromatic note to balance the headiness of the chocolate, while Bailey’s might add a welcome creamy indulgence. Dark chocolate shavings or even a chocolate coffee bean garnish could up the ante on this drink. We’ll cheers to that!
If you’re looking for more boozey bevvies, then try our green margarita, strawberry gin fizz, and strawberry Aperol spritz.
Chocolate Martini
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- ice for shaking
- chocolate syrup for drizzling, optional garnish
- 4 oz. vodka of choice
- 4 oz. chocolate liqueur e.g. Godiva
- 2 oz. crème de cacao clear
- 2 oz. dark crème de cacao
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Drizzle chocolate syrup into four (chilled) martini glasses.
- Add vodka, chocolate liqueur, and both crème de cacaos to the shaker.
- Close the shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
- Divide the chocolate martini between four glasses.
- Optional: Garnish with chocolate syrup or toppings as you like.
- Serve immediately & enjoy!