Ingredients
- Honey and crushed peppermint candy for rim
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce white chocolate liqueur
- ½ ounce peppermint schnapps
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe in a saucer with honey.
- With the crushed peppermint candy on a second saucer, dip either half or entire rim of the glass in the crushed candy to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Variations and Substitutions
The peppermint martini has a fair amount of swaps and different ingredients to make the perfect one for you.
- Use cream in place of white chocolate liqueur.
- For a dairy-free option, skip cream altogether.
- If you want a creamier peppermint martini, add ¾ ounce of cream.
- Try peppermint vodka with vanilla schnapps.
- Skip the grenadine for a white martini instead of red.
Garnishes
If a peppermint candied rim isn't for you, don't skip the garnish entirely. They're equally important as the spirits in the cocktail itself.
- Use coarse pink sugar on the rim.
- Consider red, pink, or white sprinkles, or a few in combination, for the rim.
- Make a chocolate rim instead of honey to make a chocolate peppermint flavor.
- Drop a few sprinkles in the center of the glass for a garnish.
- A whole peppermint stick makes a great garnish and treat.
- Use red icing to make a swirl inside of the glass.
About the Peppermint Martini
Similar to the grasshopper martini, made with two different cream liqueurs and regular cream, the peppermint martini isn't often spotted. First originated just before the 1920s, the mint martini gained popularity in the 1950s and 60s, most prominently in the southern United States.
The peppermint martini didn't start circulating until much later; even now, it's primarily a seasonal drink much the way eggnog and wassail are enjoyed. This only makes it a more special and enticing drink as the season rolls around. And like its counterparts, there are plenty of options for everyone.
A Minty Experience
Mint can be a fairly devisive flavor, but peppermint can be a bit more easygoing. It's permeated into so much of the winter holidays that some turn away from it completely. But when done well, like the peppermint martini, it can make anyone a believer. So whether you make this martini or the slightly sweeter Andes candy martini, enjoy a minty cocktail.
