I have become a cocktail connoisseur since moving to New York almost nine years ago. The city is teeming with craft cocktail bars that create some of the most exquisite drinks for my taste buds. In my single days, my girlfriends and I used to Apotheke, Employees Only, Whiskey Tavern and Mulberry Project on Thursday nights. I’ve become more interested in making my own cocktails for the past four years or so. Gone are the days of Red Bull vodka and Vodka soda drinks. T and I bonded over gin martinis on our first date. In turn, the gin martini has become a weekly date night ritual for us. Actually we usually opt for gin martinis after work to catch up.
He’s taught me so much about making the perfect martini for my taste. Even though I’ve made martinis too many times to count, I often find little nuances in the technique that I still feel like I haven’t mastered that skill yet. I usually take my gin or vodka martinis with a twist, however, there are certain vodkas and gins that call for something a little bit more special: the stuffed blue cheese olive.
I normally make a few dozen blue cheese stuffed olives and keep them preserved in a small mason jar for martini nights, however, there are some of you out there who might not have the time or patience for such things. There are days I cheat a bit with pre-made olives from the jar. Of all the brands I’ve tried, Jeff’s Naturals Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives are my favorites. They are also certified gluten free.
I still prefer to make my own cheese stuffed olives and I have to say it’s quiet easy to make. Simply stuff room temperature crumbled blue cheese, such as Danablu, Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Stilton, whisk it to make it fluffy and stuff it inside large pitted green olives. I usually put the softened cheese inside a small ziplock bag and cut the tip to make it easier to stuff.
BLUE CHEESE STUFFED OLIVE MARTINI RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces Bombay Sapphire Gin
- 1 ounce Martini & Rossi dry vermouth
- Lemon Peel
- Ice
- Pre-Made Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives (Jeff’s Naturals Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives)
or - Blue Cheese
- Large Green Pitted Olives
Directions:
- Stuff each olive with cheese. Skewer 2 or 3 olives onto cocktail picks; set aside.
- Fill martini glass with gin, making sure to leave some some on top to prevent spilling.
- Fill a shaker with clean ice cubes and pour gin into shaker. Add a small splash of dry vermouth
- Stir with a cocktail stirring spoon (do not shake). Strain into martini glass
- Lightly twist lemon peel over glass to release the lemon oil and run the oil around rim of the glass. Discard lemon peel.
- Add stuffed olives inside martini glass. Cheers!
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