Pistachio Martini

The Pistachio Martini is such a creamy and delicious treat of a cocktail! If you're a pistachio lover like me, this will be your go-to (especially when you're in the mood for something decadent!) It tastes just like boozy melted pistachio ice cream.

I wanted this Pistachio Martini recipe to have a really strong pistachio flavor, so I had to go with real pistachio liqueur. Since it's so rich and satisfying, this is the perfect drink for the Christmas holidays and wintertime. This would also be a great green-themed St. Paddy's Day cocktail too!

Looking for more creamy Christmas season drinks? Try out this crowd pleasing aged Eggnog, this New Orleans classic Brandy Milk Punch, or eggnog with a twist with this tasty Sugar Cookie Eggnog.

For another creamy dessert cocktail, try out the delicious S'Mores Martini!

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make this cocktail:

• Pistachio Liqueur - this nutty and creamy liqueur is the star of the show. I used Fabrizia brand pistachio liqueur.
• Vanilla vodka - the vodka gives the drink a little bit more of an oomph, plus brings in a subtle vanilla sweetness. I used Stoli vanilla vodka.
• Cream - this makes the drink even more decadent and delicious.
• Honey - the honey is just used for the garnish, to help the pistachios stick to the glass.
• Pistachios - these are for garnish, but they really do add a lot of flavor and deliciousness to the drink!

Substitutions

Here are some ways you can substitute the ingredients in this cocktail:

• Pistachio liqueur - if you can't get your hands on this liqueur, try substituting in one ounce of Monin pistachio syrup, plus one ounce of cream. Or, in a pinch, use a quarter teaspoon of pistachio extract, plus one ounce of simple syrup and one ounce of cream.
• Vanilla vodka - you can substitute in plain vodka here, or use vanilla rum or plain white rum.
• Cream - you can use whole milk, half and half, or a non-dairy cream such as coconut cream.
• Honey - if you don't have honey, you can use another thick syrup like corn syrup, or melted white chocolate to stick on the pistachios.

Variations

There are so many ways you can change up this recipe! Here are some ideas:

• Top with whipped cream - adding some whipped cream on top is an easy way to make this drink even more over the top tasty.
• Add in some Bailey's - you can add in a half ounce of Bailey's Irish Cream for a twist on this recipe, or even try some Godiva white chocolate liqueur for a different flavor.
• Use a different liqueur - if you aren't a pistachio person, try out a different base liqueur. Frangelico is a hazelnut liqueur, or go for some Rumchata cream liqueur.
• Keto Friendly Pistachio Martini - instead of using pistachio liqueur, try subbing in Jordan's sugar free pistachio latte mix. Vanilla vodka often has sugar added, so switch that out for plain vodka or white rum.
• Non-alcoholic version - if you're avoiding alcohol, you can still enjoy a creamy pistachio mocktail. Try mixing up an ounce of Monin pistachio syrup with the cream, and use cold water in place of the vodka.

Equipment

You'll need to have a few basic bar tools for this cocktail:

• Cocktail shaker
• Cocktail strainer
• Jigger or small measuring cup
• Martini glass for serving
• Some small dishes to add the pistachio garnish

To crush your pistachios, you can use a spice grinder, a blender or even a rolling pin. I used my Americana brand personal blender.

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Instructions

Start out by adding the pistachios to the side of the glass. I crushed them up in my blender, then added them to a dish. You could also crush them using a rolling pin.

Add some honey to a second small dish.

Then, either dip or spread honey onto your serving glass. You can do this all around the rim, or just on one side like I did.

Note: Try to make sure the honey layer is not too thick, or it will drip off the glass and make a mess! You can use the back of a spoon or a knife to spread it into a thin layer if you need.

Dip the glass into the crushed pistachios to coat it, and then set it aside while you make the drink.

Add the pistachio liqueur and vanilla vodka to a cocktail shaker.

Then, add in the cream, and fill the shaker with ice.

Shake vigorously, for about 15-20 times. Then, strain the drink into the glass, and serve.

Hint: If you can, chill the vodka along with the liqueur and cream for at least 30 minutes before making the drink. This will keep it from over-diluting when you shake it up.

Top tip - Batching

This is an amazing drink to make as a big batch for a party! You can make it even up to a few days in advance. Just check on the expiration date of your cream before you start.

All you need to do is multiply the ingredients by the number of drinks you want to make, or use the handy calculator in the recipe card below. Add them all to a pitcher along with ½ ounce of water per cocktail. (The water is in place of the shaking with ice.)

Keep the pitcher in the fridge until you're ready to serve.

Garnish all of your glasses before the party starts so you have them ready to go! Then you can just pour the drinks directly from the pitcher.

If you want to froth up the drink before serving, pour each serving into a mixing glass and use a milk frother, or shake it up with a blender ball before pouring it into the serving glass.