This is probably one of the most simple martini variations I’ve encountered. It’s also surprisingly good. It’s basically a normal martini with freshly ground pepper stirred in. That’s it. I know – it sounds potentially vile. But extensive scientific research* has revealed the truth. You start by making a classic martini with lemon peel. For this variation lemon is more effective than olive. It pairs … Continue reading A Martini with Pepper
This is a guide to gluten-free martini enjoyment. Some martini variations can contain traces of gluten so this should help clarify where you might need to be careful. Continue reading Martinis for Celiac Disease
This is a simple recipe to make a slow cooked leg of lamb. You can enjoy a aperitif at the last stage of the preparation while the meat is resting. Continue reading Slow roasted leg of lamb
This is a really easy martini to make. You infuse gin or vodka with Lapsang Souchong tea and use this to create a martini in the same way as a classic. This is another of the “mar-tea-nis” (martinis made with gin/vodka infused with tea) and is my joint favourite alongside an Earl Grey Martini. It’s also pretty simple to put together. Lapsang Souchong is my … Continue reading The Fujian Martini – made with Lapsang Souchong
We were clearing up the house after taking down all the Christmas decorations and we came across this mysterious bottle. Okay okay… I say “mysterious” but actually, as soon as I saw it I knew exactly what it was. Sometime in the last few years mum made some limoncello with vodka and lemon rind then left it to season. Obviously we forgot about it and … Continue reading Mums Limoncello from the Last Milennium
Just another selection of recent martinis… A dirty one. A clean one. Both dirty and clean – photograph courtesy of Dr. Kirsty. Watching the sun set. Seeing the moon rise. Feeling the summer fade. Watching seasons come and go in general. I guess one thing about a martini is taking the time to pause and enjoy things. They are the most ‘zen’ of drinks and I … Continue reading Some more martinis
I was picking up some supplies in the supermarket when this gin caught my eye. Bombay London Dry Gin: more muted in appearance than its bright blue Sapphire sister, it has a simple, almost stringently-coloured branding. I am not a fan of floral or overly botanical gins in my martini so I though that this one with only 8 botanicals (to Sapphire’s 10) might provide … Continue reading A Bombay Martini
I drifted into borough market the other day and found myself standing in front of a fishmonger’s counter staring at all the produce. I couldn’t leave empty handed and suddenly felt a craving for salty, briny oysters so I bought a handful.I’ve made a martini with oysters before (you can see the blog post here). This time, though, I was inspired by a story I’d … Continue reading A Martini with Crushed Oyster Shell
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
This is a very tasty variation on a classic. It’s just a normal dirty martini but with an extra sour-silken touch of citrus. I’ve mentioned previously that Fragata kindly sent me a box of goodies to try out. I usually eat their olives stuffed with anchovies but now I’m trying out their olives stuffed with lemon. While I still prefer to eat their … Continue reading A Dirty Martini with lemon olives
The Martini Socialist 