Thanks for the martini...

It's November, and that means that my favorite holiday is just around the corner: Thanksgiving. For some reason there just seems to be less stress associated with this day (maybe that's because I'm never the one doing the cooking!). Seriously though, for me Thanksgiving is all about coming home and catching up with good friends and family over bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau and a few martinis. So while we wait for the 2007 vintage to hit wine shops, here are some seasonal cocktails (courtesy of Martini Talk, Part IV) to sip:

Candy Apple
Courtesy of Stirrings
1 part Stirrings Apple Martini Mixer
1 part Players Extreme caramel-flavored vodka
Caramel sauce
Stirrings Apple Martini Rimmer

Rim glass with caramel sauce and Apple Rimmer. Combine Apple Mixer and vodka with ice in a martini shaker. Shake and strain into martini glass.

Manhattan in the Fall
Courtesy of Stirrings
1 1/2 parts bourbon
1/2 part sweet vermouth
1 part Stirrings Pear Martini
Pear slice
Cherry

Stir all ingredients together in a mixing glass half-filled with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pear slice and a cherry

PomeTini
Courtesy of Hiram Walker
1 part Stolichnaya Vodka
1 part Hiram Walker Pomegranate Schnapps

Shake and strain into martini glass, garnish with lemon wedge.