Candy cocktails

Sergeant Peppermint Chocolate Martini | Max Brenner

The eponymous emporium of chocolate king Max Brenner gives the ubiquitous chocolate martini a refreshing twist: peppermint. “Chocolate and mint is a longtime love story,” says the Bald Man. “I wanted to create this love affair in a cocktail, with the refreshing aromas of the mint blended into the sweetness and stimulating flavor of chocolate.”  By doing so, he created what amounts to a liquid Peppermint Patty, blending Smirnoff vodka, peppermint schnapps and chocolate cream (a ganache of either milk or dark) in a martini glass garnished by a sugary candy watermelon slice. The milk chocolate version boasts a creamy, malted flavor with just a subtle hint of mint while the dark has a heavier, more robust and bitter chocolate taste that lingers on the palate. Either way, the result is smooth and satisfyingly consistent. ($11)

Candy credibility: 4 stars. If your emphasis is on the liquor, go for the milk chocolate iteration, which allows the alcoholic undertone to shine through, whereas the richer dark chocolate version is more intense and therefore more appropriate for candy cravings.