Mellow Yellow Martini
This drink is not for the faint of heart. It is also not for fans of those new, often brightly-colored “faux-tinis” out there. This is a REAL drink! Use your favorite crisp, smooth vodka, not a flavored one. The fortified wine is also great sipped alone as an aperitif.
Mellow Yellow Martini
4 oz. premium vodka (not flavored)
2 oz. fortified wine (recipe follows)
Fresh mint for garnish
Chill a martini glass: Pour water and ice into the glass until overflowing and let sit while you mix the drink. Alternatively, place a clean, rinsed glass in the freezer.
Pour vodka and fortified wine in a martini shaker filled half full with ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into chilled glass. Float a mint leaf on top of the drink. Serve immediately. Repeat as desired.
Fortified Wine (adapted from t’afia Restaurant)
1 Ruby Red Grapefruit
1 whole vanilla bean
1/4 cup organic sugar
1/4 cup premium vodka
1 bottle white wine (a good sauvignon blanc is recommended)
3 whole sprigs mint
Cut the grapefruit into eight pieces, keeping all of the skin and pulp. Split the vanilla bean down the middle. Stir vodka, wine, and sugar in a container with a tight-fitting lid until sugar is dissolved. Add grapefruit, vanilla bean and mint sprigs. Seal container and let steep for at least three weeks in the refrigerator. Strain. Vanilla bean may be reused for another batch.
