Pecan Pie Martini

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Cocktail History

The Pecan Pie Martini is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as a more complex and serious interpretation of the popular fall drink of the same name.

Considered one of the most-searched recipes during the autumn season, this version of the recipe pairs rum cream liqueur, white chocolate, hazelnut, bourbon, and flavored bitters along with a dollop of whipped cream and a crunchy pecan rim to make a drink that encapsulates the flavors of a beloved Thanksgiving dessert.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

RumChata Cream Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with dairy cream, cinnamon, vanilla, Caribbean rum, water, and sugar, which are blended to develop a spiced, creamy flavor.

White Crème De Cacao: This is a liqueur made with cacao, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a light, milk chocolate flavor.

Hazelnut Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with hazelnuts, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a rich, nutty flavor.

Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, with other grains, water, and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in new charred oak barrels to develop a rich, caramelized flavor.

Cardamom & Caramelized Raisin Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with cardamom pods, caramelized raisins, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a warm, spiced flavor.

Caramel Sauce: This is a spread made with caramelized sugar, butter, cream, and water, which are heated and then cooked down into a sauce with a sweet, buttery caramel flavor.

Pecans: This is an edible nut harvested from pecan trees that has a rich, buttery flavor.

Whipped Cream: This is a dairy topping made with cream and sugar, which are whipped into a light, airy texture.

Ground Cinnamon: This is a spice made from finely ground cinnamon bark that has a warm, sweet-spicy flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 RumChata Cream Liqueur
• 🔗 Bols White Cacao Liqueur
• 🔗 Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur
• 🔗 Four Roses Bourbon
• 🔗 Crude Bitters & Sodas “X” Cardamom & Caramelized Raisin Bitters
• 🔗 GHIRARDELLI Premium Caramel Sauce
• 🔗 Reddi-Wip Original Dairy Whipped Topping
• 🔗 Simply Organic Ground Cinnamon

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Mortar & Pestle Set: This is a kitchen tool with a bowl and a heavy handheld grinder that’s used for crushing ingredients into fine powders or pastes.

Martini Glass: This is a stemmed glass with a wide, V-shaped bowl that’s used for serving stirred, or sometimes shaken, cocktails without ice.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 Gorilla Grip Heavy Duty Granite Mortar & Pestle Set
• 🔗 Libbey Embassy Martini Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Light caramel brown color

• Aroma: Decadent cream, toasted pecans, caramel, and vanilla

• Taste: Indulgently smooth combination of nutty sweetness, rich chocolate, creamy liqueur, and a hint of bourbon spice

• Finish: More pecan and baking spices

Kendall’s Take
“Truthfully, I can’t say whether this tastes exactly like pecan pie since I’m not sure I’ve ever had a slice now that I think about it. What I can say is that this version of the popular Pecan Pie Martini is undeniably delicious in its own right. Rich, nutty, and dessert-forward, it absolutely feels like something you’d serve at the end of a fall dinner party. I’m rarely a fan of the work that goes into over-the-top rims too, but in this case the caramel and pecan add enough depth to justify the extra effort. For a holiday dessert cocktail, it earns its place on the menu!”

Recipe