Ordering a martini in a new venue can be risky business, but these reassuring questions from the bartenders indicate that you’re going to be okay. Continue reading The Reassuring Questions: 5 things you want to hear when ordering a martini
This is a very simple martini variation using Portuguese fortified wine in place of vermouth. It works well with a gin martini but can be even better as part of a vodka martini. Continue reading A Portuguese Martini
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
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
Growing up on an island off the west coast of Scotland, I don’t think I even saw a mango until I was a fully grown adult living on the mainland. However they almost immediately became my favourite fruit. I love their sweetness combined with a zesty taste that reminds me of the smell of pine needles. This pine flavour might be one of the reasons … Continue reading The mango martini
While I first made this during the winter, I think it will make a better summer cocktail. It involves a similar preparation technique to the Lemon Drop Martini with Foam but uses Earl Grey infused gin as an additional ingredient. Leave out the egg white and the frothing process in this recipe if you want a simpler drink. For two martinis you will need: * … Continue reading The Lemon Iced Tea Martini with Foam
This is a slight variation on a classic American cocktail. I first encountered the Lemon Drop in New York. A barman asked me what I wanted and I said I felt like something strong and astringent. It’s a very simple combination of sweet and sour, and it’s easy to make at home. Leave out the egg white and the frothing process in this recipe if … Continue reading The Lemon Drop Martini with Foam
Canada is one of Britain’s closest allies. It was only a matter of time before I wrote about the country. Have you ever heard of Five Eyes? It’s an intelligence term. I will let someone else give you the details, or you can read about it here. It’s basically an intelligence-sharing arrangement between five key countries – the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United … Continue reading The Canadian Martini
I love the sweet taste of maraschino cherries, so I thought I would incorporate it into a classic martini. I made a classic martini and simply added two teaspoons of maraschino cherry syrup then garnished the drink with one of the cherries. Simple. Goes well with a cookie. Apparently. Continue reading Maraschino Cherry Martini
The Martini Socialist 