In the mix:
2-3 kaffir lime leaves
1½ oz. Pearl Coconut vodka
Splash of simple syrup
½ oz. fresh lime juice
Shake very well and strain into a martini glass with a sugared rim. Garnish with a lime.

"This isn't excessively sweet," bartender Paul Marzozchi said. "Pearl makes some of the truest-flavored vodkas out there."

Bottom line: Do you think Malibu rum whenever you hear coconut? Don't cringe. The coconut flavor in this sophisticated drink is light and tempered by the lime.

Or try: The Japanese Plum Martini ($11) packs a delicious, gingery punch.