robot_parade

Just thought I'd share - I finally found 'my' martini today, after much experimentation. It is really just a classic martini...all this time I've been fooling around with olives - and I do love olives...but today I tried a martini 'with a twist' instead, and...wow. I'd assumed that the lemon twist wouldn't do much for the drink, but this drink is *amazing*.

The amounts aren't exact - I didn't feel like measuring.

(cut a longish strip of lemon peel. Set aside)

4 oz gin (bombay saphire)
1/2 oz vermouth (martini + rossi)

(Stir with a lot of ice for 30 seconds or so)

(serve into *cold* martini glass)

(squeeze the lemon peel lengthwise, outside down, over the glass. 'twist' into corkscrew shape, pull on it a bit, then compress back to corkscrew, and drop it in)

I know, I know, I shouldn't be gushing over what is really just a classic martini, but I've been drinking martini's with olives for sooo long...

My 'old' favorite martini was a dirty vodka martini:

vodka, vermouth, olive juice, and three olives.

Also yummy, if you like olives.

snowy

That's a lot like my martini...but I like mine extra-dry.

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robot_parade

Yeah, I really need to start measuring - the 1/2 oz vermouth is just a guess...I definitely like at least a little vermouth, though.

I read a great (possibly apocryphal) description of the amount of vermouth Winston Churchill took in his martini: Instead of actually putting any in the drink, he just toasted in the direction of France.

Funny guy.

onesnowyowl: Hrm...interesting...I've been parsing your name as 'ones now yowl' since I've seen it here on tfp...but I just realized that 'one snowy owl' is probably the intention....yet another advantage of the aforementioned martini...the influence of which I am under at the moment. ;-)

aKula

Another drink and you won't be reading "willravel" as "will travel"

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Val_1

I like mine very dry. But, I'm not alone


<li>Winston Churchill chose to forgo vermouth completely, and instead simply bowed in the direction of France


<li>General Patton suggested pointing the gin bottle in the general direction of Italy.


<li>Alfred Hitchcock's recipe called for five parts gin and "a quick glance at a bottle of vermouth."


Bombay Saphire used to be my gin of choice, but lately I've returned to my original gin: Gordon's. It's a gin that doesn't get enough respect. Don't let the price fool you. It's good stuff. Citidel would be my second choice. Oh, and Hendrick's gin is good for a change. It's infused with cucumber! Great for hot summer nights.

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Sage

Bombay Sapphire. Pfah. Hmmph.
Bombay, sans hullabloo and hefty infusion of college frat boys trying to be impressive, is the gin of choice for me. None of this "Sapphire" buisness so one can try and fail to compare it to the eyes of the lady standing next to you at the bar.

Martin and Rossi. Hmmph. Pfah.
Noily Prat Dry. That's the kind of Vermouth you don't just have to toast in the direction of France for. You can actually put some in your drink.

As to the lemon twist, I've never tried it that way. Something about not wanting to rough up a lemon unless I'm going to use it later... But I'll have to overcome my good manners and give it a go.

Glad you're enjoying a classic. Oh, and by the way... THIS IS THE ONLY DRINK YOU'RE EVER ALLOWED TO CALL A "MARTINI." If this recipie has vodka in it, then you're allowed to call it a "Vodka Martini." Everything else is a cocktail. None of this "Razzberry Martini" "Orgazmotini" "Chocolatini" crap. Martinis are the kind of drinks only men and the women who make men scream their name drink. Puts hair on your chest.

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robot_parade

Sage - Excellent! I have heard the rule about a 'true' martini. I've been using 'Sapphire', maybe I'll try the 'regular' Bombay, or the Gordon's that Val_1 suggests.

While we're talking Martini's - a few years ago, as a 'new' drinker, I was at a bar with the guys from work. I'd tried the 'classic' martini, and was looking to...expand my horizins...or...something. So I ordered the 'ginger martini'.

It was, of course, hot pink.

So, 'girlie' drink in hand, I had a wonderful evening. But, I won't be ordering one of those again. Ever. :-)

Daniel_

This is just anoter of the totally puzzling uses of the "English" language that happens on your side of the water.

As the lady says - a Martini is Gin and (Dry) Vermouth. A Vodka Martini is Vodka and Vermouth.

I guess you could use Sweet Vermouth (i.e. Rosso), and have it be a Martini of some description, but I'd not recommend it.

Is the existence of two different words for similar concepts too confusing for the americans?

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Leto

I have to jump into the Martini boat here with a hefty 2 thumbs up. I am a recent convert to the sapphire gin, and am truly enjoying it, as I was a Tanquery user for so long. I currently love the sapphire gin, but definitely will swing back to the standard London style gins at a drop of a hat.

I hear that the other type of gins (Plymouth) is not as suitable for maritinis but may be olay for other cocktails. Dutch gins tend to be too sweet for mixing and are better straight.

Nevertheless, I like the recipe as first stated, particularly the 4 oz dimension. I actually do twist the lemon in, but ALSO add the 2 queen sized stuffe olives. I can't do without.

So, Classic dirty martini with a twist and olives. My Doom.

A barkeep told me never to shake a gin martini as this will bruise the botonicals (!!!). A vodka martini, on the other hand can be shaken, rather than stirred.

snowy

robot_parade, I think you'll find that most people have distinct preferences when it comes to gin. I've had a few of them, including the regular Bombay that Sage mentioned. To me, it's not as herbaceous as the Sapphire, and that's what I like about the Sapphire. So I continue to drink the Sapphire.

Hendricks is excellent, and yes, Gordon's does get overlooked--though I might mention that in Casino Royale, Gordon's was James Bond's choice.

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ShaniFaye

I love martini's....but I cant abide them with a twist...to *me* the lemon just totally kills the whole thing....whether its make with gin OR vodka

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Mobo123

For 20 yrs, i drank bombay sapphire, enjoying it, also thinking it was the 'coolest' gini out there. (In the '80's, i used to keep a bottle of BS in my friend's freezer) so that after work, i would drop by to make myself a drink before the drive home.

However, over the past couple years, i have gone back to my roots, Tanqueray. I have found that i enjoy my martinis so much more with this old classic than with BS. Straight up, 3 olives, NO dirty martinis for me---yuck.

Maybe i'm just getting older, maybe my taste buds have changed. But somehow, the level of my Tanq bottle keeps getting lower and lower.

A little trick i was taught by a friendly bartender when i was in college some 25 years ago. Pour the vermouth into your chilled glass, swirl it all around and then dump the remainder out. Absolute perfection.

Last, I have really discovered and am seriously enjoying vodka martini's, with Absolute Vodka, even above Stoli. dont know why but i do. Good stuff all around. If it wasnt so late, i would make me one right now.

castex

Wow, great thread! Almost everyone contributes something valuable and/or funny. Almost, that is, because I'm just here to cheer you people along.
Go-go-go you rib-tickling cocktail shakers!