Grilled Kiwi Martinis

OK, so I really wasn’t exaggerating when I told you last time that I have been grilling EVERYTHING lately.

Even my beverages. Oh yes, I went there, and it was a glorious thing.

To be fair, the only thing that is actually grilled for this drink are the kiwis themselves, and grilling fruit is nothing new. People have been doing it for awhile now. BUT! I have to say I’m a total convert. The smoky caramelization that happens with grilled fruit is a magical thing.

Grilling fruit for cocktails is going to be my summer thang this year. I’m calling it now. The wheels are already turnin’….grilled pineapple margs, grilled strawberries for daiquiris, oooh oooh! How about grilled peaches for sangria?! Yes. It’s happening. All of it.

And we can all blame it on these grilled kiwi martinis. They are FAB. I first got the idea for a kiwi cocktail from Jessica, who made incredible kiwi margaritas a few months ago (we make them regularly – my current fav margarita recipe). I’m not sure why it seemed like such a novice idea to me. I LOVE kiwi, after all. How had I not thought to put it in a drink before?!

Once the temperatures edged 80 degrees back in early May, the grill was turned on and pretty much hasn’t been turned off ever since. On top of copious amounts of grilled bread each week, we’ve consumed burgers, pizza, veggies, and these flatbreads…all made on the grill. It was only natural that grilled cocktails would be next. Right? Right.

These martinis are a fun summer twist on the standard cocktail recipe. They are infused with the sweetness (and color!) of kiwis but with a smoky, slightly savory edge. I choose to leave the kiwi syrup unstrained because I love the look and texture of the little black seeds. If this isn’t your thing, though, feel free to strain it through a fine-mesh sieve before serving. The flavor will still be all kiwi.

Speaking of, I like to mix the kiwi syrup with plain vodka and lime juice, just so I can really stay true to the taste of kiwi, but feel free to shake things up with other booze or flavored vodkas. I could see coconut-flavored rum or tequila working really well with the kiwi syrup.

Just sayin’.