A traditional martini is made with gin and vermouth. So as not to overwhelm the flavor of the chocolate, we make this martini with vodka. For a very dry martini, swirl the glass with dry vermouth and empty it before pouring in the liqueur and the vodka.

A rim of ground dark chocolate makes this drink look especially enticing. To get this consistency, grind chunks of chocolate in a coffee or spice grinder

INGREDIENTS
Dry vermouth
Vodka (kept in the freezer)
Ground 62% semisweet or 70% bittersweet chocolate
Chocolate Liqueur (page 101)

Pour ¼ inch of vermouth, vodka, or water into a rimmed saucer. Place ¼ inch of the ground chocolate on a second saucer slightly larger than the rim of the glass.

Swirl each glass with a splash of vermouth, and pour it out. To create the chocolate rim, dip the rim of the glass in the vermouth, vodka, or water, then in the ground chocolate.

For each drink, pour 2 parts chocolate liqueur to 1 part vodka into a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into the glass.

Copyright © 2006 Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, Inc. Photographs copyright © 2005 Deborah Jones. All rights reserved.