martini Archives - Littlesugarsnaps

Tonka Bean Manhattan

April 11, 2018 by Jane Saunders 4 Comments

The Tonka Bean Manhattan is a smooth, delightful twist on the classic Rye Whiskey cocktail. Tonka beans add notes of vanilla, caramel and almonds to the mix, creating a sublime & mellow drink.

Two simple words: Tonka Beans. It’s my new wheeze on the cocktail and hot chocolate front & I know this exotic ingredient is going to find its way into various desserts over the next few months too. But I have a bit of ground to cover today before I get to my star recipe: the Tonka Bean Manhattan. Can you handle a speedy diversion?

Ever since I went to the London Cocktail Week last autumn, I’ve been wanting to recreate the Tonka Bean Negroni I had there. So, picture me eagerly unwrapping my delivery of tonka beans several weeks ago and seeking out a recipe online for Tonka Bean Syrup. Now picture my frustrated face when I couldn’t find a reliable recipe out there for that Syrup. I found just two. The first recipe said to use 1 tonka bean, the other said to use 40 beans. That’s some difference.

Unsure how to proceed,…

Spiced Chai Latte Martini

September 20, 2017 by Jane Saunders 10 Comments

What better way to enjoy the traditional flavours of Chai Spice that in cocktail form. This Chai Latte Martini swaddles warming spices with vodka to create a smooth and slightly sweet drink that is perfect to savour over autumn and winter.

September is the month I allow myself to rekindle my secret love affair with spiced chai goodies that I’ve buried deep during the warm summer months. But when the mornings are crisp, the evenings are dark and padded jackets are needed again, I’m quick to immerse myself in all things chai spiced. I need that fix of warming, sweet, aromatic spice to see me through the cold times ahead.

If you dig into my recipe archives you’ll quickly discover that I have a mild obsession with chai spice. I’ve made shortbread, nuts, syrup and several comforting hot drinks using this trusty friend. But I’ve never made an alcoholic drink with it – until now. What, you might ask, took cocktail-loving-me so long to get there with the alcohol?…

Hot Cross Bun Easter Martini

March 8, 2017 by Jane Saunders 12 Comments

Full of sweet raisin, cinnamon and nutmeg flavours this Hot Cross Bun Easter Martini is your favourite springtime treat in cocktail form. It’s easy to make and so perfect to share with friends over the extended weekend. Just don’t forget to infuse the vodka a week or so in advance.

Oh how organised I’m feeling. Smug you might say. And all because I’ve actually got around to getting this Hot Cross Bun Easter Martini out in good time for Easter. Normally I fly by the seat of my pants and often realise, 24 hours ahead of time, that I’m about to miss yet another major food event on my blog. Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday being my most recent case in point. Ooops.

I am slowly learning though – I’ve been eyeballing Easter for a couple of weeks now. My mind has been rapidly ticking away coming up with numerous Easter themed sweet bakes. I’d say my mind ought to settle down now. I could do with getting on with the actual baking and recipe testing since I’d like to share at least one of these bakes with you in time for Easter 2017.

But back to today. I’m particularly pleased that I’ve got this sneaky cocktail ready for you to enjoy since the vodka needs to infuse…

Bourbon Black Forest Cocktail

December 20, 2016 by Jane Saunders 4 Comments

Loaded with chocolate & cherry flavours this Bourbon Black Forest Cocktail is deeply warming and pleasantly sweet. It’s a particularly stylish winter drink.

It’s really happening. Christmas is only 1,2… 5 days away. For that reason, my post today will be short and to the point. Very soon I’m heading up to school to collect my excitable kids for their school holiday. I’m not actually certain who is more excited on this point – me or them. They still have days to wait before their real fun begins, whereas I’m already happy because we can slip into holiday mode in oh… just a few hours time.

But before then I just have a few more things that must get done. Like talking about this smart little Black Forest Cocktail. You didn’t really think I would seriously sign off until 2017 without treating you to a suitably wintery cocktail to enjoy over the Christmas period did you?…

The Italian American: a Bourbon Campari Amaro Cocktail

November 17, 2016 by Jane Saunders 4 Comments

The Italian American blends classic American ingredients with two classic Italian liqueurs. The result is a Bourbon, Campari & Amaro Cocktail that is big on flavour: mellow, well-rounded and simply delicious. It’s the perfect drink for autumn or winter and would bring your Thanksgiving or #Friendsgiving celebration to a stylish close.

Slowly but surely Britain seems to be adopting quite a few celebrations more commonly associated with America. Take Halloween as an example. When I was growing up, this October festival that is so massively anticipated and celebrated across the Atlantic barely got a mention in my neck of the woods. At best there might have been the odd pumpkin for us kids to carve out. But the idea of trick or treating? I’m sure that was never on the cards.

Then there’s Black Friday. Yes – that day of sales that takes place on the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving. Although we do not celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK, we do seem to have embraced Black Friday.

Two years ago I unwittingly decided to go Christmas shopping in London on Black Friday. I was unaware it was Black Friday. I’d never even heard of Black Friday. …

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