Photo by Laurie Frankel

Start off New Year's Eve party planning with this this tart and tangy apple martini. Because who doesn't enjoy some holiday cheer shaken, not stirred? It's a great jumping-off point for your cocktail (and food!) menu.

Makes: 1 drink

Ingredients
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce sour apple schnapps
1 ounce apple juice
Sugared apple slice, for garnish

Directions
1. Pour vodka, sour apple schnapps, and apple juice over a handful of ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until very cold, then strain into a chilled, tall glass.
2. Place apple slice in a glass for garnish. You can also serve this in a martini glass and place the apple slice on top.

Excerpted from Holiday Cocktails by Jessica Strand with permission from Chronicle Books, 2003. Photographs by Laurie Frankel.

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-- Sara Hennessey

See More: Bar & Cocktails , Food & Recipes , Holiday , Recipes