Vampire Killer Martini

Name: Vampire Killer Martini
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 1 serrano pepper, seeded and quartered; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 lemon peel strip (2 inches); 1-1/2 cups vodka; Ice; GARNISH:; Pickled baby beets

If you're going to hang with vampires, you're going to need a strong drink. This spicy vodka martini, with a blood-red beet garnish, does the trick. A little garlic helps, too! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ingredients

1 serrano pepper, seeded and quartered
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 lemon peel strip (2 inches)
1-1/2 cups vodka
Ice
GARNISH:
Pickled baby beets

Directions

Place the pepper, garlic, lemon peel and vodka in a large glass or plastic container. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 1 week.
For each serving, fill a shaker three-fourths full with ice. Add 1-1/2 ounces infused vodka to shaker; cover and shake for 10-15 seconds or until condensation forms on outside of shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a beet.

Originally published as Spicy Vodka Martini in Ultimate Halloween 2012 Bookazine