Sometimes life throws you lemons. And if you're an optimist, you make lemonade. Or, you use the rind of said lemon and use it to make a twist in an awesome martini and wait for things to get better.
One of my favorite haunts when I was in my early 20s is the time-honored Cruise Room at Denver's Oxford Hotel. It opened the day after Prohibition ended in 1933, and has been open ever since. A quintessential example of Art Deco design, the Cruise Room was modelled after a bar on the ocean liner the Queen Mary. Carved panels of cultures around the world saying 'Cheers!' line the walls, basking in dim pink light.
Now, personally, I tend to stick to the classics--my bebida preferida (when not drinking Malbec) is a vodka martini up with two olives. It's been years since I warmed one of those bar stools at the Cruise Room, dreaming I was in another era, and I haven't embraced the trend of pomegranategingerapplefusion-tinis that's all the rage at hip clubs and bars.
But...this martini, while it follows the mixology fad, leaves you with a little something special. Maybe it's the grassy flavor of the Yerba Mate, or the twist of lemon, but this martini is clean and sharp. Enough for even a traditionalist like me to enjoy! And enjoying yourself (responsibly, of course) is something that never goes out of vogue.
As it's carved on that luminous bar-room wall, Salut!
Martini de Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate Martini
This would be a fun signature drink at an Argentina-themed party.
2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Yerba Mate, chilled
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
twist of lemon
ice
Brew the Yerba Mate (I used bags) very strong--a few ounces of boiling water to one bag. Chill the Yerba Mate. In a martini shaker or pitcher, combine the vodka, Yerba Mate and Grand Marnier. Add ice and shake. Strain and serve in a martini glass with lemon twist.
Gotta try this!
Posted by: ValeriayMauricio Godoy | April 01, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Debe ser exquisito, no conocia la receta, lo probarè luego, aqui tomamos la bebida "mate" tradicional,la que tu conoces, un beso saludos Florencia desde Bowen Mza.
Posted by: Florencia Piechotiuk | February 09, 2010 at 12:03 PM
Mark and I checked out the cruise room when we were in Denver last spring for IACP. They were closed, but the staff let us poke around anyway. I LOVE martinis and will definitely be winding down with one of these soon. As my bartender friend says "Its a light and refreshing drink!"
Posted by: Emily | February 09, 2010 at 07:29 AM
Wow! Never thought of that combo but I recently had a green tea vodkatini in NY and it was dynamite.
Mate is quite the acquired taste, and not for the faint of heart (literally). Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Liz Caskey | February 05, 2010 at 07:31 AM
Some day I would love to mate session in Argentina. I travelled to Argentina virtually today with Joan of FOODalogue but love to go some day.
Posted by: bellini valli | January 30, 2010 at 12:03 PM
This looks simple and quick to make. ;-)
Paz
Posted by: Paz | January 27, 2010 at 09:11 AM