The Appletini: What Sweet Dreams are Made of I n case you’re wondering the Appletini is in no way a Martini. True that its real name is A...
The Appletini: What Sweet Dreams are Made of
In case you’re wondering the Appletini is in no way a Martini. True that its real name is Apple Martini (Appletini is what it’s called for short), it cannot truly be considered a Martini because it doesn’t contain gin or vermouth. The only things it shares in common with the classic Martini cocktail is the glass it is served in.
Still, cocktail enthusiasts are quick to forgive this. After all, it’s a fun and lively drink that really gets the party going. Back in the 1990s, it became the new “IT” cocktail, with starring roles as the favorite cocktails of John "J.D." Dorian in the old sitcom Scrubs, as well as Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men, which was meant to mock their masculinity. Indeed, the Appletini has always been seen as more of a feminine drink, the kind that bachelorette party girls order boisterously, making it the bane of existence for bartenders everywhere that would have sticky green remnants all over their bars come closing time.
Most cocktails come with a torrid history, one where no one can fully agree who was the original creator. However, the Appletini has a very defined history. In 1996, it was created as the Adam’s Apple Martini at Lola’s West Hollywood restaurant.
So how does one make an Appletini properly? Your best bet is always to use top shelf vodka. Don’t skimp on quality. Most bartenders will tell you pour good quality vodka at 1 1/3 oz. and 2/3 oz. of mixer which can be apple juice, apple cider, or the most common choice, apple pucker. You’ll add this to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake it up and then strain it into the Martini glass.
Some find the flavor to be too artificial though, so if you want to give it that clean and refreshingly tart crisp taste of apples, try it with a quality apple liqueur. If you want the bachelorette special, go for the neon green stuff. Other variations include adding in sweet and sour mix, adding in vermouth to make it more akin to an actual Martini. Other people have branched out from the Appletini to create a Rumpletini, made with light rum in lieu of vodka, which is a nice option if you don’t do well with vodka.
Ultimately, if you’re drinking an Appletini or any variation of it, your primary objective is to celebrate and perhaps grace the dance floor with your “moves.” But that’s ok. We’ve all been there. Just be sure to do so responsibly.
Have you ever had an Appletini? Did you do anything wild while drinking one?
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