The Perfect Martini. Literally, or maybe figuratively.
“Fondue sets, martini shakers and juicing machines: three things the world could live completely without.”
Let me explain the stupid title. If you order a perfect martini, you’re going to get a drink that’s equal parts vermouth and vodka or gin. But mine’s perfect because it “has all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.”
Truth be told, I’ve never made a Martini before this one. That is to say, this is the first time I’ve made a martini. The first time I had one was at The Atlantic in Edgartown. Got it dirty. I’ve tried a few different styles, and find that my favorite is a dry gin martini on the rocks with a twist.
I feel like gin is a tincture. It’s alcohol, but with a variety of herbs and spices. Hell, I make this stuff at home, practically! I’ve read reviews of people making their own gin by soaking juniper berries and other spices in vodka for a month and then straining them out. I assume you could do something similar with essential oils.
On the first night of Hanukkah this year, I found myself at Total Wine and came upon Farmer’s Gin. I’d read good reviews, and it’s organic. So I’m assuming they use better quality ingredients than the standard. When I thought of doing this cocktail series, I picked up the cheapest dry vermouth at Whole Foods. It was a limited selection anyway. It’s particularly frustrating to me that alcohol isn’t considered a food and doesn’t require the same labeling.
When I was in high school, my friend Remy gave me Gucci ice trays.
Here’s the recipe. You’ll need to do some prep.
Put a glass in the freezer. If you’re going to follow this recipe exactly, you’ll need a low glass and not a cocktail glass. Make sure you have ice too. You’ll need:
2.5 oz Farmer’s Gin
.5 oz Dry Vermouth
Lemon
Ice
In your frozen glass, pour the gin and vermouth. Stir.
Add ice.
Slice a piece of the lemon peel, and rub it along the lip of the glass, then drop it in.
Swish swash, mix it all up.
Voila!
Seriously, iPhone portrait mode is not that good.