"I always come up with one out-there cocktail," says Ryan Wainwright when talking about his seasonal drink menus. The director of bar programs for the Bombet Hospitality Group (Terrine, Viviane, Faith & Flower, Hanjip) has concocted plenty of inventive libations since Terrine opened, but the latest is a real beauty: a Chocolate "Martini," made with Wheatley vodka, Dolin Blanc vermouth and Giffard Blanc crème de cacao. The cherry on top is, actually, on the bottom, and it's not a cherry at all. Instead, imbibers will find a housemade chocolate bonbon waiting patiently at the bottom of their glass—a delightful treat once you've finished the equally delightful drink.
It's hard to mess with a martini. Like a manhattan or an old-fashioned, the martini is a work of art on its own; any alteration—we're looking at you, appletini—often takes away from the simplistic beauty of the drink. But change is good, and some of the best cocktail bars in LA are livening up the drink by turning the martini on its head. The next time you're stuck in a cocktail rut, head to one of these spots for a non-classic version of the martini.
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