by Chelle Koster Walton
My vodka epiphany occurred a few years back while at the University Grill in Fort Myers. The born-again martini craze was just gaining momentum, but I was still fond of disguising the taste of vodka in a Bloody Mary or screwdriver. Yet, I so loved the new martini glasses and could totally picture myself sipping suavely at the edge of something tall, stemmed, and stylish. So I ordered the Absolut Vanilia specialty drink called the Barbara B. Mann Martini that the Grill served at the time—vanilla-flavored vodka with a splash of amaretto. I was transfixed and transformed. Within weeks, I had my own set of martini glasses and was on my way to exploring the wonderful ways of designing with vodka.
Shortly after, I discovered the chocolate martini at Dolce Vita on Sanibel Island. Our bartender that night created it by first spinning the stemware while piping chocolate sauce in a swirling pattern on the inside of the bowl. He then shook up the ingredients for what tasted like a liquid truffle with punch and gratifying sweetness.
Today’s infused vodkas have created a whole new world of martinis, and the variety is endless. So to celebrate National Vodka Day, October 4, we’re taking a look at how some local and non-local bartenders have embraced the trend and run with it.
Jazzy at Ellington’s
Vodka artist Dominic Cureio is putting a unique twist on martinis at Ellington’s on Sanibel Island. Once well-known for its vodka flights, which are no longer offered, Ellington’s continues to introduce new and fun ways to enjoy a vodka drink. Cureio has been mixing martinis for over 10 years, and he has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
On a recent visit, we asked to see a martini menu. There is not one, Cureio told us, but he then proceeded to design, before our very eyes, four different creative concoctions that displayed his talent with a shaker and ice. One of his ingenious works is the liqueur caviar he himself creates for martini garnish. We sampled his triple sec caviar in our first cocktail, a Nuvo Cosmo. Nuvo is a low-alcohol, sparkling vodka from Paris, lightly flavored with cranberry and entirely refreshing. The caviar provided colorful contrast, and we savored the sweet, gummy-bear-like surprise ending to the drink.
Cureio’s Pomegranate Martini blends Pama liqueur, black raspberry liqueur, and sour mix. For his own ravishing Undercurrent, he pours Ketel One Vodka and sour mix, then dribbles black raspberry liqueur along the side of the glass to settle at the bottom. Finally, Ellington’s No-See-Um is another palate surprise—a chocolate martini clear as, well, vodka—and satisfyingly sweet, without the heaviness. The ingredients…? That’s one secret that Cureio isn’t about to reveal.
Bests of the Cape
How much fun does this sound? Hop aboard a trolley, be shuttled from bar to bar, sip martinis, graze on appetizers, and judge which tipple topples your world—and all of this for only $20. This adventure is the annual Best Downtown Martini Competition in Cape Coral. The third annual event is planned for January 31, 2009.
Last year, 10 downtown bars and restaurants participated in three categories: Best Classic Martini, Best Exotic Martini, and Best Dessert Martini. The designing got wildly innovative in the last two categories, with creations such as the Chimptini, Leg Spreader, and Baked Apple Martini. A sold-out crowd of 1,000 participants tasted two-ounce samples of each drink and then cast their ballot on which establishment made the Best Downtown Martini.
The Cape Coral Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency, which sponsors the event, arranges for taxi rides home for only $10 (within Cape Coral city limits). For more information on riding the “martini express,” call 239-549-5615 or visit www.downtowncapecoral.net.
Vanguard Van Gogh
Van Gogh Vodka offers more flavored vodkas than any other brand on the market. Defying tradition and adding a touch of color are some of its latest flavors such as the Açai-Blueberry, and the new Banana Vodka infuses the flavor of ripe banana for a natural sweetness perfect for the after-dinner drink. Known for its decoratively painted bottles as well as its smooth, true-to-the-food taste, Van Gogh has developed hundreds of different drink recipes that are available online and in its annual calendar.
I Never Promised You an Herb Garden Garden Variety Co. based in North Miami has introduced a line of vodkas infused with the fresh flavors of the herb garden. As featured on the Today Show, Herb’s Aromatic Infused Vodka comes in four varieties that not only bring new flavors to cocktails, but also complement culinary works in the kitchen. Choose from dill, cilantro, rosemary, or fennel. For more information, visit www.herbsvodka.com.
Glam in Beverly Hills At Nic’s Beverly Hills, restaurateur and “vodkateur” Larry Nicola serves the purest and most expensive martini in Los Angeles. His Kauffman Martini uses the Kauffman brand, touted as the world’s most luxurious vodka. Here, the martini is served in its purest form, with no fancy fusions, no mixers, and no added flavor. For $150, you can enjoy the exclusive cocktail served in a specially designed mouth-blown glass, which you can take home as a treasured memento of the lavish encounter.
The only vintage vodka in the world, Kauffman is distilled 14 times, which makes it, producers say, not only the most distilled vodka currently on the market, but also the most expensive marketed vodka in the U.S. (retailing at about $250 per bottle).
The Russian vodka is produced only in the years when the wheat crop satisfies quality demands in strictly limited quantities. Each bottle carries its own limited edition number. It is made with water taken entirely from natural resources and then filtered through birch-coal columns and quartz sand. Kauffman is only sold in a handful of places in a select five U.S. cities.
Chelle Koster Walton’s new favorite martini is the Hot and Dusty Martini, her own creation consisting of Absolut Peppar and just a splash of olive juice, garnished with a jalapeno-stuffed olive.