Most of the times that I ask my husband, Les, what kind of cocktail he wants for our at-home happy hours, I get the same answer:

“Something with bourbon, surprise me.” And then I’m off to figure out what kind of old fashioned or whatever he would enjoy. 

But every once in a while, Les asks me to try to re-create Will’s coconut martini. It’s frosty, coconut-y, and with just a hint of almond and a light dusting of cinnamon. The first time I tasted this drink, I thought it tasted a little bit like Christmas. I still think so!

Will is part of my extended family— my husband’s cousin’s husband— and we made an instant connection on our first meeting at my (almost) mother-in-law’s 90th birthday party back in 2016. Will is charming and fashion-forward, always has a witty comeback for every situation, and makes even last-minute entertaining seem effortless. When we visited him and Cousin Evan on our tour of the Tri-State area a few years ago, Will pulled out the blender and whipped up these drinks like it was nothing. And Les went bonkers for it!

I asked for the recipe on the spot, but it was clear that Will had made them so many times, it was pure muscle memory for him. He said it was vodka, cream of coconut, a splash of Amaretto and ice. How much of each? Well, until it “tastes right.” 😂

Les has asked for this drink at home enough times now that I’ve finally managed to get the ratios pretty darn close to Will’s version. With today being Will’s birthday, I thought it would be fun to share this frozen concoction, and just in time for Winter Solstice and Christmas. It’s an easy drink to make as a batch, so increase your measurements for the number of people who’ll be enjoying it. And, of course, if it needs a little more of something or another for your taste, just fiddle with it until it tastes right. 😉

Cheers!

Will's Coconut Martini

• Servings: Two drinks
• Prep Time: Two minutes
• Difficulty: So easy!
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This is a really simple cocktail that is easy to batch for a group, and the subtle touches of almond and cinnamon make it taste like Christmas.

Ingredients

• 4 oz. (1/2 cup) vodka
• 2 oz. (4 tablespoons) Coco Lopez or Reàl Coconut (see note below)
• 1/2 oz. (1 tablespoon) amaretto
• Ground cinnamon to sprinkle on as garnish

Note: Coco Lopez is canned cream of coconut, and it is sweetened. Do not confuse with culinary coconut cream, which has no added sugar. If you are making only a couple of drinks, or if you prefer to use a squeeze bottle, Reàl Coconut would be a good alternative. You can find both of these products in the cocktail mixer aisle of a grocery store.

Directions

1. Measure vodka, Coco Lopez and amaretto into a blender container.
2. Add one cup of ice for each drink. Pulse the blender to break ice into smaller pieces, then run the blender continuously until the mixture is smooth and frosty.
3. Divide the blended cocktail into two chilled martini glasses. Sprinkle the top of the drinks with cinnamon and serve immediately.