Ingredients
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5 fl oz/⅔ cup (150 ml) good-quality Vodka
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2 Star Anise
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For the Plum Puree
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7 oz/1 cup (200 g) Caster Sugar
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9 fl oz/1 cup (250 ml) Water
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9 oz (250 g) fresh Plums
Directions
My favourite cocktail, which was created for a Polish ‘pop-up’ I ran in the city of St Albans a few years ago. I teamed up with a local cocktail bar, Mokoko, who created some cocktails to match the recipes I was serving. This martini really stood out and, unusually, it was paired with pudding: Plum and poppy seed tray bake served with cinnamon whipped cream. You can make this cocktail with your own homemade plum vodka or liqueur, or with bought s´liwowica, as plum vodka is called in Poland. The Mokoko boys added plum bitters, though I tend to make a fresh plum purée instead. I like to garnish the glass with a slice of fresh plum and a star anise.
The plum purée and/or a dash of s´liwowica can also be added to a glass and topped up with champagne for a Polish-style Bellini.
Steps
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1
Done
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Begin by making a sugar syrup. Put the sugar and water in a saucepan, bring it to the boil, and cook until all the sugar has dissolved, then take the pan off the heat and leave the syrup to cool completely. You can store this in a sterilized container for up to 1 month. |
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2
Done
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Set aside two plum slices to garnish. Put the remaining slices of plum into a saucepan, cover them with the sugar syrup and bring to the boil. Simmer until the plums soften, then leave to cool. Blitz the plum mixture in a food processor, then strain through a fine sieve lined with muslin. Place the plum purée in the fridge to chill. |
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3
Done
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Chill your cocktail shaker and two martini glasses in the freezer for 20 minutes before you start making your cocktails. |
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4
Done
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Pour the vodka and 4 tablespoons of the plum purée into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into two martini glasses. Garnish with a thin slice of plum and a star anise in each glass. |
