The Martini is one of the world’s most iconic cocktails, and it naturally boasts countless twists. One of the most intriguing is the Flame of Love, created to please Dean Martin (1917–1995) and equally beloved by his friend Frank Sinatra (1915–1998). For a time, this drink walked hand in hand with the golden age of American music and cinema.
The Story of Flame of Love
During the 1970s, many Hollywood stars regularly lunched and dined at Chasen’s, a Beverly Hills restaurant that opened in 1936 and closed in 1995. The cocktails were crafted by bartender Pepe Ruiz, who upheld the venue’s prestige by tailoring drinks to his VIP clientele.
Among the most famous regulars was Dean Martin—a singer, actor, and comedian born to Italian parents from Abruzzo (his real name was Dino Paul Crocetti). Martin rose to fame thanks to his comedy duo with Jerry Lewis, gaining stardom that brought him to television, radio, and film. He was also a remarkably talented crooner, releasing 75 albums over the course of his career.
Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra
Pepe Ruiz knew that any cocktail created for Dean Martin had to be extraordinary. Fortunately, inspiration struck, and the Flame of Love perfectly matched Martin’s taste. Legend has it that one day Martin brought his friend Frank Sinatra to Chasen’s specifically to try the drink. Sinatra was so impressed that he ordered one for every guest in the restaurant. The evening ended in celebration, and Pepe Ruiz secured his place in the spotlight of the mixology world.
Flame of Love Cocktail, the Recipe
The name Flame of Love comes from the act of igniting the essential oils released by an orange peel when squeezed. There’s no consensus on how many peels to use: some use one, others two, while Imbibe magazine’s official recipe calls for “many peels” without specifying an exact number.
Ingredients
- 60 ml vodka
- 15 ml fino sherry
Method
Pour the sherry into a Martini glass, swirl it around, then discard the liquid, leaving only a thin coating on the inside. Light a match and use it to ignite the oils from a freshly expressed orange peel; this caramelizes the sherry and adds clear citrus notes. Repeat the flame as desired. Then, in a mixing glass filled with ice, add the vodka and stir until well chilled. Strain into the prepared glass.
Garnish
A “scorched” orange twist.
Images credits Julie Couder x Coqtail, location Ceresio 7. All rights reserved.
