I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while. A very good friend and reader of this blog presented me with a bottle of this gin from Haymans. I instantly loved the branding and packaging. The colours, dark blue and gold, were positively regal. So I put the bottle in the freezer and awaiting a visit from my friend so we could have … Continue reading A Martini with Hayman’s Gin
A sweeter alternative to the classic martini. This one is very straightforward. You will need gin/vodka, sweet vermouth and a jar of maraschino cherries. The following recipe is for a 150ml glass: Add 3 teaspoons of maraschino cherry liqueur to a chilled martini glass. Add sweet vermouth to taste (between 2tsp and 30ml). Add chilled gin/vodka (between 120-140ml depending on the amount of vermouth … Continue reading The Gypsy Martini
Wake up to something magically taboo. Marmalade cocktails have been around for a long time but the decadent breakfast martini was invented by Salvatore Calabrese in the Lanesborough hotel in London in 2000. It involves gin, marmalade, lemon juice and Cointreau or Triple Sec. Those nice people at Fragata sent me a jar of Marmalade from their native Spain. It tasted so good … Continue reading The Breakfast Martini
Serving a cocktail in a martini glass and adding a -tini suffix to the end of its name does not make it a martini. A real martini should contain a small amount of vermouth and a large amount of gin or vodka. If you start messing around with this too much you no longer have the genuine article. Acceptable variations include the dirty … Continue reading The Fiery Ginger Martini
A zesty version to lift your dirty martini. Continue reading A Dirty Martini with lemon olives
Grrrrrrrrrrr This is a very simple variation on the classic martini, and its obviously got a very arresting name. I first had a hot and dirty martini at the Mermaid Inn in New York. It’s an excellent aperitif as it really gets your digestive juices churning. It’s perfect before a special dinner, whether it’s Sunday lunch, seafood, a romantic meal for two or … Continue reading The Hot and Dirty Martini
Okay so the title may sound a little bit melodramatic. Nonetheless, I like the style of this simple lemon garnish. I first saw it in the Skylon bar in London’s southbank. It’s very easy to put together. Once you’ve squeezed your lemon peel into the martini glass (remember why this is important) cut it into an elongated diamond shape. Cut a long slit … Continue reading A garnish like the wings of Hermes
A delicious, crunchy and flavoursome luxury snack for your drinks. Continue reading Asparagus skewers to accompany a martini
This is the simplest guide to making the best classic martini. You Will Need -Gin/vodka -Vermouth -A fresh lemon -Martini glasses In Advance -Put the bottle of gin/vodka in the freezer for at least 8 hours. -Rinse the martini glasses under a tap and put them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. -Note that I keep my gin and glasses in the freezer … Continue reading How to make a classic martini
Don’t worry, this is a common problem, and there are several options that you might find appealing. Quality First of all, make sure you’re using good quality ingredients. A poor quality gin or vodka will taste bad whatever you do to it in a martini. There is no soft drink to tone it down or mask the quality. Temperature Is the drink cold enough? It … Continue reading What to do if you find martinis too strong
The Martini Socialist 