Polar Vortex Martini

2022 Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 14 – Polar Vortex Martini. A vodka martini gets an upgrade with a hint of Chartreuse, a heavy pour of Lillet Blanc, and a splash of Cointreau. Seeing if you can rest it on your forehead is a great sobriety test. No glasses were shattered in the making of this photo.

Last year I staged a photo with a cocktail perched atop my outstretched, well-heeled foot, this year I’ve switched from toe to head and am anxious to see how many of my loyal followers will attempt this stunt. If you are going to try this at home, please have a spotter/prop stylist close at hand.

My inspiration was this vintage photograph I found on Pinterest. When you have lots of big creative ideas, it’s important to surround yourself with willing and able production assistants, hand models, and fake snow throwers.

My boyfriend Michael was instrumental in making this photo come to life. Luckily, I have an absolutely massive forehead so there as a lot of surface area to work with when precariously positioning this Polar Vortex Martini. Nevertheless, Michael ensured I was lined up with the backdrop and that the glass appeared straight and upright. He then ran back to the camera and followed my specific instructions on how to program the self-timer and then manically grabbed handfuls of fake snow and made it rain Christmas down on me.

Not an insignificant amount of plastic snowflakes ended up in my smiling mouth, eyes, and in the drink. If you’re considering recreating this photo, I will warn you that this is an incredibly uncomfortable angle for your neck, make sure you’re not to warm/cold before shooting, and DO NOT attempt to swallow when your head is thrown back like this.

I made the critical error of setting up in front of a gas fireplace, while wearing a wool coat with a fur collar, I was sweating profusely within seconds. I also tried to swallow and succeeded only in making guttural utterances similar to that of a mama bird regurgitating food for baby birds.

Luckily, we got the shot and the tasty, spirit-forward, herbaceous and complex cocktail was the reward we needed for our labours.

Be sure to tune into my Instagram Stories tonight at 5 p.m. as I stir up this martini!

Polar Vortex Martini

5 from 1 vote

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Polar Vortex Martini

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

A vodka martini gets an upgrade with a hint of Chartreuse, a heavy pour of Lillet Blanc, and a splash of Cointreau.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: British

Keyword: Chartreuse, Lillet Blanc, Martini, Vodka

Servings: 1

Author: Yvonne Langen

Ingredients

• 1¼ oz Lillet Blanc
• 1 oz vodka
• ½ oz Cointreau
• 1 barspoon green Chartreuse
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• Garnish: grapefruit twist

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir over ice until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Express citrus oils from grapefruit peel onto the surface of the drink. Fashion into a twist and place on the lip of the glass.