A new take on an age-old classic
by Erik Eastman, Easy & Oskey
Photos by James Eastman
Recently I had the chance to catch up with a friend after the holiday madness had subsided and learned said friend was not particularly fond of my favorite drink, the Martini. My companion posed this question: “Maybe I just haven’t had a good one?” Very possible, dear friend. Very possible indeed. So, if you find yourself on the outside looking in when it comes to the Martini, may we offer the following remedies:
• We know some guys who wrote about how to construct the proper Martini.
• Have The Bachelor Farmer’s Jon Palmer make you a martini. You can find the incredibly friendly and talented Mr. Palmer at TBF Friday through Monday evenings, and his Martini construction skills are otherworldly. PhD level. Simply put, he makes the best martinis this enthusiast has ever had.
• If Jon can’t sway you to the ways of the Martini, swap out the dry vermouth for Carpano Antica and call this drink the Martinez. If you like history, many say the Martinez pre-dates the Martini. Personally, I don’t care. Both are great drinks, but the Martinez can be a bit more accessible to a wider audience with the addition of Carpano Antica.
The Martinez
Choosing a peppery, juniper forward gin like Tanqueray will yield a drink that is more for the Martini lover. For this application, we recommend the incredible new Solveig gin from the good folks at Far North Spirits in Hallock, Minnesota. Their gin is made from rye grain they grow themselves, with a silky texture that lends an incredible mouthfeel to resulting cocktails. The flavor profile is a balanced combination of botanicals like coriander and thyme with a ping of citrus from grapefruit peel.
Adding a dash of something sweet like Luxardo Maraschino liqueur and a bit of bitters to balance everything out yields a drink that is incredibly smooth and refined. We think our 5 Spice bitters work wonders in this application, but feel free to use Angostura or our Autumn Spice bitters, referenced last issue, and a garnish of Easy & Oskey Orange bitters.
Ingredients
60ml (2 oz) Solveig Gin
25ml (slightly less than 1 oz) Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
1 tsp Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
5 drops Easy & Oskey 5 Spice bitters or Easy & Oskey Autumn bitters
Garnish with an orange or lemon twist and a few drops of Easy & Oskey orange bitters.
METHOD
Combine all ingredients (except garnish) in a mixing glass with clean ice. Stir to desired dilution, typically at least 15 seconds. Strain into a coupe or martini glass and garnish with citrus peel and Easy & Oskey orange bitters.
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