Pomegranate Martini

So thoughtful!

That Joe, obviously worried about my health, he flat-out insisted that I have his Pomegranate Martini for this week's Greatest Drink in the World!

If you choose to read on about this "superfruit concoction," you will see why it is such a healthy option. If you order one for yourself, you will see why it made it as The Greatest Drink in the World... This Week.

The Recipe:

While chilling a large martini glass, into a shaker full of ice, add:

- A 4 count of Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka

- a 2 count of Absolute Vodka

- a 2 count of POM Pomegranate Juice

- the juice of 1/4 of a large lime, (freshly squozen with Joe's new "Mexican Elbow!")

Strain into the now-chilled martini glass

Joe's Notes: There are a number of pomegranate-flavored vodkas on the market. I chose to use Van Gogh as I believe it to be the smoothest and it is less sweet then many of the other brands available. When mixing the Pomegranate Martini it is important to only use fresh lime juice, Rose's lime juice makes the drink way too sweet.

As you probably know, the antioxidants in pomegranate juice have many health benefits, not least is the claim that it is 40% as effective as Viagra, (although I don't know if 40% would be beneficial enough under the circumstances.)

This somewhat ties in with pomegranates being known as the forbidden fruit found in the garden of Eden. Adam apparently was way ahead of his time and if he was around today, he would probably be the CEO of Pfizer!

Pomegranates, or pomegranate extract, has been used for centuries in herbal medicine. Many of these "old wives tales " are making a comeback in new products. I remember as a kid being made to clean my teeth with baking soda. Now, it is featured in many tooth paste brands. I was also made to clean my teeth with a toothbrush covered with soot from the chimney and a dash of salt. I don't know if it was supposed to have any benefit or was just some sadistic tendency of my mother. In either case, I am not expecting "Soot and Salt" toothpaste to became available any time soon.

Chris's notes: So, this weekend is Hallowe'en. As I asked Joe for (yet another!) scary-themed cocktail for the blog, he just looked at me and said, "Don't you think we've got that covered with the Red Witch from 2 weeks ago?"

Before I could get my "But..." out, he went on to tell me how he had something else in mind. Something healthy after all those Hallowe'en parties of women dressed up in "sexy cat" leotard costumes and youngish men STILL dressing up as "The Crow," pouring crappy booze and cheap draft beers down their gullets just to get sloppy for the evening.

He said how we should take "the High Road," eschew the gimmicks and present this week's greatest cocktail based on its own merits. We owe it to our readers!

Yeah, sure. Whatever.

Okay. But, as it turns out, this baby IS good. Sweet, but not too much. Rich, but not overwhelmingly so. And of course, after all those leftover "fun size" Snickers, Butterfingers, and Almond Joys, from Sunday night, something that my system perceives as "healthy" is a welcome treat, too!

Happy Hallowe'en!

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And this week's video is a real "Treat!"

It is really only related to the rest of the post because this singer reminds me of 'Smilin' Bob' from those Penis Pills commercials!

Ladies and gentlemen, Eduard Khil's, Trololo!

The SaseboRita

On a recent vacation to New Mexico, I was lucky enough to be introduced to some new Tequila as well as some new Tequila-based drinks.

Senior Research Assistant Kerry suggested her friends from Arizona join us. It was her friend, Jackie, who brought the following recipe to The Greatest Drink in the World... This Week.

Thanks, Jackie!

The Recipe:

Into a cocktail shaker full of ice, add

- A 2 count of 100 Años Tequila Blanco, (any white tequila SHOULD suffice, but this one was good!)

- a 1 count of Triple Sec

- 3 count POM Pomegranate Juice

- the juice from a half of a large, freshly 'squozen' lime,

- Shake it. Shake like the very wind!

- Strain into a large, 16 ounce glass of fresh ice,

- top off with a fat 'sploosh' of soda, (or Sprite,)

- Garnish with a fresh slice of lime.

Jackie's notes:

So, two Phoenix desert rats rendezvous with two Boston siblings in the southwestern jewel of Albuquerque, for a weekend of exploration and fun. There was no way I could let Chris break his streak of introducing a weekly libation to the world, despite the fact that he was entering his second week of vacation, just coming from the wild-lands of Colorado. After a day on a mission of shopping in Old Town, we were hankering for a margarita. Not just any margarita, but one that reflects the true aura of the southwest. So was born the SaseboRita

Chris's Notes:

Sauza's 100 Años Tequila Blanco may be among the leading Tequilas back in Mexico, but it has only been a few years since it was available here in the states. It seemed an excellent choice for a cocktail selection in New Mexico, and I wanted to try it. So I was very happy to see that this was the brand that Jackie chose for her SaseboRita.

Jackie's choice of flavor, the pomegranate, was never explained to me aside from her wanting to create a really good tasting cocktail.

Interestingly, though, POM Wonderful®, the brand of pomegranate juice, was pressured by the FDA to be sold as a drug due to its high levels of antioxidants and health benefits on a wide assortment of medical issues!

HEALTH FOOD! I should have known it! Jackie and her fellow Phoenician, (and guest researcher,) Tom 'Whitefoot', are healthy-types: Hikers, joggers, bikers, et cetera. I am not surprised that a key ingredient in one of her concoctions is something so good for a person.

Fortunately, it tastes great! The rich and robust flavor of the pomegranate is really well balanced with the sharpness of the lime and tequila, and the flavors are bridged seamlessly by the orange of the triple sec.

I think that chile pepper pint glass was the perfect finishing touch on this one.

Cheers, Chris

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This week's only-somewhat-related token video is actually somewhat related! "More than a Friend" by Rob Huffman, (it was at Rob's house in Albuquerque that I was served this week's Greatest Drink.)

Thanks, Rob!

The Chili-Chocolate Martini

--- ♪ “Happy Birthday To Me.

Happy Birthday to Me.

Happy Birthday, Dear Chri--♫--issss,

Happy Birthday To Me.” ♪ ---

Okay, so it’s my birthday. And every good birthday-boy deserves cake, right? I am no different. Only problem is, I have never been a big cake eater. BUT what if that cake was made of vodka and chocolatey liqueurs? AND what if that vodka-and-liqueurs-cake also had the punch of spicy cayenne pepper?

I give you The Chili-Chocolate Martini. (I repeat, “Happy birthday to me!”)

The Recipe:

While chilling a large martini glass, into a cocktail shaker of ice:

- Add a 3 count of Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka

- Add a 3 count of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

- Add a “sploosh” of Creme de Cocoa

- Add a squirt of Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup

- Add a “generous” pinch of cayenne pepper, (tolerance depending!)

- Shake Exhuberantly!

- Drizzle chocolate syrup around the inside of the now-chilled martini glass,

- Strain into the drink into the chocolatey martini glass

- Ganish with a cherry.

Original recipe by Joe the Bartender, Passage to India restaurant, Salem, MA

Bartender’s Notes: The first recorded chili-chocolate recipe stems from the Aztecs, they produced a hot chocolate drink from cocoa beans and ground dried chillies.

I am sure that a few of the more inventive Aztecs threw in a sploosh of tequila, especially on a first date. (Did Aztecs date?)

I found my inspiration for the Chili-Chocolate Martini while visiting my favorite Boston chocolatier. He had made a pomegranate chili chocolate truffle.

I instantly thought, I could make a drink from that. Et Voila! The Chili-Chocolate Martini!

Chris’s notes: The cayenne pepper starts out as a delayed aftertaste from the first sip, providing a very subtle tingling. With the following sips, however, this taste is far more pronounce, and really opens the taste buds up for a total immersion in the creamy chocolisciousness. One of the best birthday cakes I’ve ever had.

Incidentally, the making of this drink at the bar caused no fewer than four other people to order one right then and there.

Nobody was disappointed for following this impulse.

Salud, Chris

Further cocktail-napkin scribblings: Joe thinks that the The CCM could use a catchy name! Kerry, (dedicated research partner/sister,) has proven herself adept in this area, (see "Lucky Monkey.") Joe suggested "Sunday School Teacher" due to the drink's primary characteristics; sweet, yet hot!

Any name suggestions will be considered and voted on by a panel of enthusiasts, (and we'll try to do it early in the evening!) The best suggestion will officially become the new name of this concoction and its author mentioned here, highly.

Okay, plus, I'll buy you a round some Friday night.

Cheers!

The Hallow'tini

So, we wanted a Hallowe’en inspired drink for this week, you know, something for all those horror-themed, fancy-dress parties this coming weekend. A few ideas were bandied about; an even Bloodier Mary, a plague of Zombies, et cetera. But Joe wanted to do something original.

Starting from scratch in his laboratory, on a stormy night, much like tonight, he brought to life “The Hallow’tini,” (A.K.A. “Varying Degrees of Evil!”)

None more black.

The Recipe:

While chilling a martini glass with ice, into a cocktail shaker;

- pour a 3 count of Svedka Vodka, (original)

- pour a 2 count of Blue Curacau

- pour a 1 count of Chambourd

- pour a 2 count of POM, pomegranate juice

Shake vigorously

- Strain into the now-chilled martini glass

- Garnish with a wedge of orange

"IT'S ALIVE!!!"

Recipe by Joe The Bartender, Passage to India Restaurant, Salem, MA

Bartenders notes: A great drink, yes, but more specifically, The Greatest Hallowe’en-Themed Cocktail Around! ...And born right here in the Witch City of Salem, Massachusetts!

Chris’s notes: "Wicked Good!"

Trick or Treat!