🍒 The Black Forest Martini
A cocktail as dramatic and delicious as a letter from Annie Oakley
Inspired by a chocolate cherry cordial—and made even better with a little creative improvisation—this cocktail tastes like dessert in a glass. It's rich, smooth, slightly boozy, and totally sip-worthy.
We served this up in Manic Joy Episode 128 while diving into History By Mail, which means this one pairs perfectly with a good story and a little nostalgia.
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Ingredients
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1.5 oz vanilla vodka
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1 oz crème de cacao (or chocolate liqueur of your choice)
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1 oz cherry liqueur (we used Luxardo)
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0.5 oz Baileys Salted Caramel (or a splash of cream if you're feeling classic)
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Ice
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Maraschino cherry (for garnish—bonus points if it's the fancy kind)
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Instructions
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, cherry liqueur, and Baileys.
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Shake until well chilled (about 15–20 seconds).
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Strain into a chilled martini glass.
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Garnish with a maraschino cherry on a toothpick—hidden inside if you're feeling mischievous.
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Optional Upgrade
Feeling extra? Add a drizzle of chocolate syrup around the inside of your martini glass before pouring. Or top with a few chocolate shavings for dessert-drink decadence.
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This is one of those drinks that makes you want to float in a pool, write a letter to the president, and say, “God bless me, it’s summer.”
