In a world that has been decidedly less than quintessential, I feel a certain need to return to a well made classic recipe served in a symbolic, architectural glass. I of course mean the martini.
As a child, the martini was a mystical drink and obvious portal to adulthood. Its heritage included such diverse devotees as some of my heroes: James Bond, FDR, and Winston Churchill ( I was a strange child). It came in a fantastic glass. I obsessed over learning the variations, knowing as soon as I was legal, I would be making them. And I knew I would be judged by whether I wanted it shaken or stirred. Surely this was how all adults defined themselves. Spoiler alert: it seems to be a ruler very few of you use.
But since I've brought it up, which is side do I land on? Admittedly, both the shaken and stirred sides each have some rather expert opinions backing them. Some will tell you stirring bruises the gin. Others will tell you shaking takes all the nuance from the flavor profile. After much debate and taste-testing I land solidly....
In the middle.
For me, a shaken cocktail is more diluted by the tiny shards of ice cubes. And sometimes that is exactly what I want. And the drink seems a bit more well-mixed. Certainly for company, I would probably shake it (it's a little thing called showmanship)! But just as often, I'm content to reach for a tumbler, throw some ice in there, add my ingredients and strain off into a martini glass. Maybe I want to REALLY taste the gin. Maybe it just feels slightly easier. who can account for my whims?
But with all that settled, let's talk ingredients. You will need:
2 oz gin (you can use a London Dry or a fancy blend, as I have here)
1/2 oz dry vermouth (please tell me you bought it last month as I suggested
A lemon peel or a green olive
Ice for shaking or for the tumbler glass (if stirring)
You will also need some basic barware. For this, you will need:
A shot glass with actual .5 ounce markings
A cocktail shaker or a tumbler for stirring
As always, prep is simple, no matter which way you go!
If you choose to shake it: in your ice-filled shaker, combine the gin and vermouth. Shake it up until it's good and frosty, then pour into your martini glass.
If you choose to stir it: in your ice-filled tumbler, combine the gin and vermouth. Stir then strain into your martini glass.
Either way, once you have decanted the martini, spear an olive or two on a pick and toss it in. Prefer lemon? Give the peel a good twist over the glass, then drape it around the rim. Talk about presentation!
There are so many variations I can't even conceive of putting them all in this post! Expect another one covering just that! But probably not this month. There are too many other drinks I'd like to share!
Cheers! Salud! Prost! Slainte! Soupy twist!