El Patrone Martini Recipe

Chill glass

Place a martini glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail (about 5 minutes).

Add 2.5 oz Tito's Handmade Vodka, 0.5 oz dry vermouth and 0.75 oz olive brine to a mixing glass or cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice.

If you want a subtle blue accent, add 0.25 oz Blue Curaçao OR 1–2 drops blue food coloring mixed into the 0.25 oz lemon juice (see garnish step). Note: Blue Curaçao will add a sweet orange note; food coloring keeps flavor neutral.

Stir the mixture with a long bar spoon for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted. Use stirring (not shaking) to keep the martini clear and silky.

Discard ice/water from the chilled martini glass. Strain the stirred cocktail into the chilled martini glass using a julep or fine strainer.

Prepare the blue lemon accent: halve the lemon and squeeze 0.25 oz (about 1/2 teaspoon) fresh lemon juice into a small bowl. If using food coloring, add 1–2 drops of blue food coloring to the lemon juice and gently stir. If using Blue Curaçao instead, it is already added to the cocktail and no further coloring is necessary.

Cut a thin lemon twist: use a channel knife or small knife to remove a 1/2 inch wide strip of peel from the lemon, avoiding too much of the bitter white pith. If you prepared blue lemon juice with food coloring, lightly brush the outside of the twist with a tiny amount of the blue lemon juice so the twist shows a subtle blue tint.

Skewer three cheese-stuffed green olives on a cocktail pick. If olives are not stuffed, you can press a small cube of Manchego or a dot of cream cheese into each olive mouth.

Place the olive skewer into the martini across the rim or laid inside the glass. Express the lemon twist over the drink by holding it over the glass and pinching to release oils, then drop the twist into the glass or rest it on the rim.

Serve immediately. The martini should be extra dirty (noticeable olive brine), chilled, and finished with the salty-cheesy olive skewer and a visually striking 'blue lemon' accent.