Decadent White Chocolate Pistachio Martini Recipe

The original martini is perhaps the most famous cocktail of them all, and, despite being such a simple drink, this humble martini has never lost its shine and continues to be just as popular in the present day. Perhaps due to its enduring popularity, the classic martini, a simple combination of gin and vermouth, has spawned a thousand variations to cater to a wide variety of tastes and audiences.

This decadent white chocolate pistachio martini, from the kitchen of recipe developer Jennine Rye, takes the concept of the ever-sophisticated martini and adds abundant decadence to give you a cocktail so rich and creamy you could almost eat it with a spoon. This dessert-worthy cocktail is a silky smooth mixture of white chocolate liqueur, pistachio ice cream, and vanilla vodka, which is shaken (not stirred) to form a nutty and chocolatey sweet and creamy drink that is a wonderfully indulgent cocktail choice ideal for any chocolate lover. Finished off with an elegant garnish of white chocolate and crushed pistachios, this white chocolate pistachio martini is both elegant and devastatingly stylish, and, best of all, it is ready in under 10 minutes.

To make this martini, you will need shelled pistachios, white chocolate, white chocolate liqueur, pistachio ice cream, and vanilla vodka.

Add the pistachios to a food processor.

Turn on the food processor for 10 to 15 seconds to create crushed pistachios.

Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, stirring the chocolate in 20 second increments until completely melted.

Dip the outside of your chosen martini glass into the white chocolate and then into the pistachios, to create a pistachio crust.

Add the white chocolate liqueur, pistachio ice cream, and vanilla vodka to a cocktail shaker.

Place the lid on and shake for 15 to 30 seconds until the ice cream has fully melted and mixed with the other ingredients.

Strain the cocktail into the prepared martini glass.

Serve immediately.

This white chocolate pistachio martini is the height of elegance and decadence, and cocktails don't get much richer than this. There are few ways you can adapt this beverage without losing the general essence of it, still giving you a deliciously creamy cocktail that is dessert-level indulgent.

If you are unable to get your hands on white chocolate liqueur, a shot of Bailey's Irish cream liqueur makes a delicious and suitable alternative, giving a slightly different yet equally delicious finishing flavor to the drink. Alternatively, you might like to substitute the liqueur for additional vanilla vodka, and you can always add a dash or two of white chocolate syrup to provide that sweet chocolate taste, or you could add a small scoop of softened white chocolate ice cream to the cocktail shaker instead.

If, on the other hand, pistachio ice cream is proving to be an illusive ingredient, the pistachio flavoring can instead be added with a drizzle of pistachio syrup or pistachio food flavoring, or alternatively a scoop of pistachio nut butter works wonders. To keep the cocktail super creamy, add a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream, or alternatively an equal measure of whole milk and cream. This will allow you to still enjoy the delicious flavor combination of pistachio and white chocolate in this rich and creamy martini. For different flavor options, hazelnut makes a great replacement for pistachio, and milk or dark chocolate work brilliantly in place of the white chocolate. 

When it comes to cocktails, you might think that the type of glass chosen to serve the drink isn't all that important. However this couldn't be further from the truth, and there is both intention and history behind particular cocktail glasses used for specific drinks. After all, what would a martini be without its iconic glass? There are those who argue that a martini would simply cease to be a martini if served in a different glass, which may seem a little far fetched, however appearance is a vital part of gastronomy alongside taste and smell, telling us much about the food or drink we are about to consume.

With that in mind, there are three types of martini glasses in which you can serve this cocktail. The first is the classic V-shaped martini glass, iconic in shape and style, though unfortunately very top heavy making it easy to knock over. The second option available to you is the coupe martini glass, a favorite of modern mixologists, with its curved bowl still giving ample oxygen exposure to the cocktail to bring out its flavors, whilst also providing added stability. Finally, there is the Nick and Nora glass, heavy on nostalgia and stability, which is slightly less wide than the previous two glasses, but still works well as a martini glass, serving up your preferred variety with a splash of style.