10 out of 10
This drink is robbed directly from the menu of The Melting Pot, and I am not sorry about it, because they named it something as stupid as “The Love Martini.”
Earlier this year, my platonic life partner went to The Melting Pot with her coworkers and they had a great time. The group ordered this drink because the ingredients sounded delicious. (It involved Cranberry Juice and Peach Schnapps, which is a favorite combination in our house. Seriously, that drink tastes like a push pop.) Try it. This drink was developed specifically for the Valentine’s Day events at the Melting Pot, which probably explains that awful name. Being the group of beautiful humans that they are, my partner and her coworkers immediately befriended the waitress and the bartender in order to find out the exact recipe of the drink.
Since discovering the recipe, we have used this drink at every gathering of friends, and even taken it camping. This particular drink has has been my companion around many firesides this summer. I love sitting with it in hand, blissfully tipsy and watching the conversation go by.
What I love about this drink is that it seems to be as versatile as any cocktail can get. I can easily drink many glasses of this and be roaring drunk. Or I could sip on this with a few friends around a board game and enjoy a mellow tipsy time. It allows a lot of room for modifiers. You could add grenadine for more sweetness or orange juice for more tartness. You could muddle mint and change it into a mojito.
For me, alcoholic beverages are a staple for group gatherings. My friends and I can get together without drinking and have an excellent time, but it’s companionable to crack open a few beers (or pour a few cocktails) and chat. The alcohol relaxes those of us who are anxious, and it loosens the conversation to explore new things.
The Love Martini is a perfect drink to walk these lines. It can be drunk by many people because it’s gluten-free (unlike beer) and it’s tasty. So if you don’t enjoy tasting the alcohol in your alcohol, you can still enjoy this drink. It’s fruity, so many people like the taste of it, but cranberry juice isn’t so sweet that it’s overwhelming. As I pointed out before, you can add any number of ingredients to modify it to your liking. Even simple syrup to make it more sweet is easy.
Now before I finish up, I want to talk about this name. The Love Martini is a trash name for this drink. I think it sounds childish, and I don’t even know if I could say it out loud to order it. I would just point at the menu and say “that one please…the love one.” It makes me think of Harry Potter, but in the way that the Love Potions in Harry Potter only emulated love, not created actual love. That’s how I feel about this drink when I call it The Love Martini: I don’t love it. I just think I do.
Now, I would love to actually fall in love with this drink. To that end, let me help them rename it. Here are a few options :
- St. Valentine’s Blood
- Bleeding Heart
- Valentine’s Juice
- Berry ‘Em in Romance
- The COCKtail (for after hours)
Or my personal favorite:
- The Heartini
So this cocktail has quickly become a new favorite both in my household and in the groups I camp and socialize with. We will continue to enjoy this drink, and I hope you enjoy the recipe I place below for The Heartini (Melting Pot, I will happily take a payout so you can use that name).
The Heartini
- 1 part coconut rum
- 1 part peach schnapps
- 4 parts of Cranberry Juice
Mix all ingredients over ice, or in cocktail shaker. Enjoy!
Variations:
The Love Mintini (I’m okay with it because it’s a pun now): Muddle a few sprigs of mint in the glass before adding liquids.
Orange You Glad I Heart You: Exchange two parts of cranberry juice for orange juice.
The Secret Admirer: Add a small splash of Grenadine.