The Ideal Martini

31st March, 2010: Posted by G.L. Pease in Cocktails

Is there any cocktail more elegant than the Martini? And, is any drink more argued over? Wet, dry, olives or a twist? Clean, or dirty? Since it’s one of my faves, I thought I should give the Martini a little air time.

Okay, so maybe there’s not such thing as a perfect Martini, since everyone has their own idea of what one should be. Some like vermouth. Others think that showing the vermouth bottle to the shaker is sufficient, or whispering the word, or waving the cork over the glass, or bowing in the direction of France, or some silliness.To my mind, there are definitely a couple of things that do not a Martini make, so let’s start there. Read more…»

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The Gregorio – A Refreshing Aperitif!

12th March, 2010: Posted by G.L. Pease in Cocktails

Everyone should have an eponymous cocktail. Here’s mine. It started life as a modification of the Americano/Negroni. I loved the idea of Campari and vermouth, but the Negroni’s gin component didn’t delight. The Americano’s addition of a splash of soda to the Campari-Vermouth mixture is a nice touch, but the result is just a bit too light to my tastes, and with nothing to stand up to the bitters, it winds up not quite as refreshing as its ingredients seem to promise.

As a lover of Manhattans, the idea of adding Bourbon or Rye seemd a natural way to bring this one more in line with my tastes. A sqeeze of orange adds a deliciously fruity element, and serves to lighten things up without adding bubbles. It’s a lovely whistle whetter, a wonderful aperitif, and is absolutely stellar during summer’s outdoor parties. You really should give it a try. Alla salute! Read more…»

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