In Food & Drink

A Martini – Stirred, not Shaken

Posted by: on Sep 17, 2010 | 2 Comments


I haven’t done a drinks post in quite a while, and in light of The Thin Man, I thought I would post my Martini recipe. A Martini is really one of the most simple cocktails out there, but one of the real measures of a good barman. I don’t profess to have a “perfect” recipe, but just one that I really enjoy. As with all cocktails, good ingredients are key, and in something so simple even more so.

Without further ado, the Simply Refined Martini:

50mL Gin (Hendricks, Beefeater, and Berry Bros. new “No. 3″ are my prefered)
10mL Dry Vermouth (Noilly Prat or Martini)
2 Dashes Orange Bitters
1 Large, Unwaxed Lemon

Stir together the first three ingredients over ice until frigid. Strain into a cocktail glass, and cut a large swatch of peel from the lemon over the glass, coating the surface of the drink in lemon oil. Wipe the peel around the rim of the glass and drop in. Enjoy. Repeat.

2 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    September 17, 2010

    Excellent post, and thank you for upholding the gin not vodka tradition. The whole idea of something called a vodka martini is an abomination. Your choice of Hendricks, though, is a bit odd. Particularly since you didn't mention Plymouth, the gin the inventor of the martini had in mind. Hendricks is a tough gin for a fairly "straight up" cocktail, in my opinion. Still, you did say it was your choice. I had never heard of Berry Bros. No. 3 and as I see looking it up, it's fairly new. Probably not even available here in the States. Would love to try it, however.

    Prosit!

    Reply
  2. Stephen Pulvirent
    September 19, 2010

    Not to offend any vodka-lovers out there, but a vodka martini just seems pointless to me. Plymouth does make an amazing, and admittedly the original, martini, but just isn't my personal favorite. Hendricks makes a nice soft, floral martini, Beefeater a more crisp, citrus forward martini, and the Berry's No. 3 has an astounding finish.

    The No. 3 isn't available in the States yet, but I had a chance to sample it at Berry's whilst in London over the summer, and although a bit pricier than most gins, a fine treat.

    Reply

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