So you want to make a martini? If you reach for the vodka, I’m going to slap you. And I’m a karate-penguin, so my slaps really hurt.
Vodka tastes like methylated spirits. And before you ask, yes I have tasted methylated spirits. Actually, vodka and water have a bit in common, the more you spend, the more it tastes like water.
I know Bond liked vodka, but he likes his martinis like he likes his women, trajic and pointless.
Do your sense of taste and style a favour. Put on some classy attire, dust off the martini glass and go and buy some gin. It has a taste. The fact that no-one drinks it anymore will make you look much classier than when you get out the imitation Finlandia.
I recommend Bombay as your gin of choice. Even in the bottle, it’s all class.
The aniseed is clear without triggering your gag reflex. Complemented with coriander, lemon, juniper, almond, with a bunch of other minor flavours you can read from the side of the bottle. A nice tingle touches off a fantasic drop of liqour.
Marry that with some dry vermouth (Cinzano is a good place to start). Use it sparingly, no more than 1/2 oz for every 2oz of gin. If you attune to the gin taste, take it down to an 1/8th.
Garnish with some lemon zest. Don’t ruin a good martini by making it salty – save the olives for when you you out of gin. Dirty martinis are for the unwashed hordes.
I think it was Winston Churchill who said that quickly glancing at a bottle of vermouth at a distance is more than enough for a good martini.
Your friends with taste will be impressed that they can, well, taste something, unlike a vodka martini.
Those that prefer vodka really shouldn’t your friends anyway.
