Shaken, not Stirred

I too enjoy the occasional dry martini as well as a nice gin and tonic. I discovered many years ago that my head doesn't tolerate cheap gin. When I drink a lesser gin I get an awful headache very soon. So for the poorer years I had to abstain the majority of time.

Now that life is flush I can afford the occasional call martini. I usually order Tanqueray but after reading here I'll try Bombay Sapphire.

Any other recomendations on quality gin?

quote:

Originally posted by MikeSh

I too enjoy the occasional dry martini as well as a nice gin and tonic. I discovered many years ago that my head doesn't tolerate cheap gin. When I drink a lesser gin I get an awful headache very soon. So for the poorer years I had to abstain the majority of time.

Now that life is flush I can afford the occasional call martini. I usually order Tanqueray but after reading here I'll try Bombay Sapphire.

Any other recomendations on quality gin?

Beefeater is an old stand-by, very crisp and very clean for Martinis. I have had a penchant of late for Plymouth, a very traditional British gin made available here only a few years ago, but it is almost twice the price. Otherwise, I rotate and have Bombay Sapphire. On occasion, I do buy a bottle of Boodles, which is not as crisp as Beefeater, but not as floral as Tanqueray. And if you like that floral, or botanical side of Tanqueray, try Tanqueray 10. Otherwise, for a G&T, I keep a bottle of Gordon's in the freezer. Given my druthers (read, better wages) the choice for a G&T would be regular Bombay.

Label me a multi-tasker but I have always found that a swig of Grey Goose vodka accompanied by just a whiff of Martini & Rossi's Vermouth then someone shaking ME has always been my favorite Martini.

I hope I haven't stirred anyone up with this contribution.

quote:

Originally posted by i95

Label me a multi-tasker but I have always found that a swig of Grey Goose vodka accompanied by just a whiff of Martini & Rossi's Vermouth then someone shaking ME has always been my favorite Martini.

I hope I haven't stirred anyone up with this contribution.

Well, that's certainly a new twist.

BTW, I do like Boissière vermouth. Originally it came from France, but it now comes from Italy.

I am partial to Beefeater's gin, though Tangueray or Bombay Sapphire also do nicely. My method is a silver shaker, some ice in the shaker over which gin and a tiny splash of vermouth are slowly poured. Then a few rigorous, rhythmic shakes and into the freezer (along with the Martini glasses), for about 10 minutes or so. The Martini is then served "up" with a couple of olives thrown in. I allow about 2 ozs. of gin per drink, but the limit is one! A Friday night ritual at our house.

I like a good Cosmopolitan, too, but I wouldn't put it in the same league with a Martini.

Any one heard of a "Dirty Martini" I had one at a place called Dave and Busters in N.Y. state. They are made with vodka and a splash of olive juice. I think the olives are soaked in vermouth.

quote:

Originally posted by alesrus

Any one heard of a "Dirty Martini" I had one at a place called Dave and Busters in N.Y. State it is vodka with a splash of olive juice.

That's right, and there's not much else to it -- just a drop or two of olive brine. And the key is in the brine from the olives. Only use a little liquid from the best olives of your choice. Stay away from olive liquid that has a trace of olive oil. Also, if you use liquid from vermouth-laced olives, you will probably not need to add vermouth to the Martini. Cracked Greek olive brine strikes me as the best for a dirty Martini.

quote:

Originally posted by SharonTriv

I allow about 2 ozs. of gin per drink, but the limit is one! A Friday night ritual at our house.

Party pooper!

Thanks Grampy. I must have been editing my post as you were typing yours. I will have to try it with the greek olives.

Bombay, or if I'm feeling rich, Sapphire. 10-1 to 8-1 with vermouth -- Straight gin is not a martini IMO. I stir, I usually have two olives and a piece of lemon peel. A non-oversize maritini glass is great. It's small enough that the drink is still cold at the end, and small enough that I get to enjoy making a second or third!

Johnny Walker Black on non-martini nights...

I am disappointed that there is no interest in giving a name to that poor little bastard made with Vodka. will no one own up to being its parent?

Mike Sh: for what it's worth: Cheap gin has mostly artificial flavoring- usually the Juniper is genuine. The chemicals in the artificial flavorings may have caused your headache. But, you should know that many of the botanicals used to flavor high end gins are toxic to humans - but probably not in the quantities found in our Martinis.
I personally thrive on cheap Gin , but I am happy to have a quality bottle whenever good fortune smiles on me.In any case I think death by Martini would not be a bad way to go.

Aelsrus: We experimented in our careless youth (read 1950s) ; with adding olive juice to our Martini. It was dirty - so we never did it again - it was a good drink ruined!

Bushie: Just what we'd expect from a Texan!

Love to all, CHEERS!

quote:

Originally posted by seafarer john

I am disappointed that there is no interest in giving a name to that poor little bastard made with Vodka.

I see that your rules do not state that there is only one name per contestant so I am entering several names and may think of more!


CHICKENLESS KIEV

KAMCHATKA ROT GUT

KREMLIN KOOL AID

FARTINI

CAFE AU YELTSIN

POUR US A BORIS

If more entrees are needed, I will put on my thinking cap!

I like POUR US A BORIS

quote:

Originally posted by seafarer john

I am disappointed that there is no interest in giving a name to that poor little bastard made with Vodka. will no one own up to being its parent?

We are assuming the inventor was Russian and not Polish. If the latter were true, I say we call the mix of spirits a Poletergeist.

Seafarer, the first thought I had was, "Well, if it's not a Martini, then it must be a Rossi!" I figured, however, that there was probably already a cocktail called a Rossi, and after a little research, it appears there is an obscure Italian "cocktail" called a Rossi.

So, considering that vodka came from Russia (I thought so, anyway), I submit that we call this drink a Russi.

Actually, since it seems that most people care little about Vermouth, why don't we call it what I do: Vodka on the Rocks.

Whoops! Silly me. We're not talking "on the rocks", are we? I guess that should be, Vodka, Shaken, not Stirred.

OK, there seems to be two "camps" here, the Martini Gang (Gin) and the Vodka lovers like myself. "Different strokes for different folks" as they say.

One edge for the Vodka folks is I can order a "STOLY UP" and leave out the other gangs' nomenclature of adding the word "Martini". Once I have said that, I get my drink faster as I do not have to answer all the follow up questions like "You want it dry"? "Olives"? "Do you want a specific Gin"?

Here we go:

STOLY UP
STOLY ROCKS
GREY GOOSE UP
GREY GOOSE ON THE ROCKS
etc.

99% of the bartenders, maids, servers, whatever is politically correct these days, will understand what you are looking for. After he/she/it gets back with your drink you can always as for some olives or just reach over the bar and grab some.

Just my 2 cents!

Don (1:1 ratio, Polish and Ukranian. STOLY UP with a potato in it!)

(I wonder if I could stuff a perogi with Stoly. Hmmm.)

Martinis = Sean Connery (shaken, not stirred)

Vodka martini? Call it a Non-Connery.

quote:

Originally posted by seafarer john

I am disappointed that there is no interest in giving a name to that poor little bastard made with Vodka. will no one own up to being its parent?

Playing historian for a moment, I see that apparently John Martin, president of Heublein and purchaser of the Smirnoff recipe in 1939, began a push for vodka drinks. He actually gave the vodka Martini a name: the Vodkatini, also known as the Silver Bullet. While that did not catch on, his Moscow Mule did (for those who remember it).

I'm delighted with all of your responses. Now all we need is for The Mayor to do his duty and get the judging panel in business. As soon as he does that my check will be on its way to him.

Also, no limit on responses - make all you want.

Vodkatini??? That man should have been drowned in olive juice!

I already like FARTINI, but, NEW RULE . "TINI" absolutely cannot be
a part of the winning name for the little bastard. (No pun intended on ABSOLUT)

I also like the play on BORIS, and I like RUSSI, But I'm not part of the selection committee, so my vote dont count!

I'll beg off the proper name for the nonce, but how about the dirty olive version as "A Vulgar Boatman"?

How about the "Babushka Buster"?

A few random observations:

We like Tanqueray #10 at my place

Martinis are made with gin and dry vermouth and an olive or two

An olive may be stuffed with jalapeño

Martinis have no sugar or color

Vodka and vermouth constitute what we [temporarily] will call a vodka martini

"Gin is the only alcoholic beverage of which price can be used to gauge quality." Dunno who said it, but it seems true

A martini can be too dry

I was told that the Gibson is named for a British diplomat (early 20th-century?) who hosted many parties but wanted always to be on his toes. He therefore instructed his bartender to serve him plain water, placing a onion in it so he could identify it. Having said that, a Gibson around my house is made with gin.

Me? Wild Turkey or Oban with a splash of soda and a bit of ice.

Well after a very ****ty night at work I made a rare stop at a local waterin hole Wed morning. After having been in this thread I wanted to try Bombay Sapphire but alas they "only" had Tanqueray for the good stuff. So I made do with a shot on the rocks, a ham&cheese omellete with toast and then a Tanqueray&tonic for dessert.

Many years ago, June of 1984, when I first went to working graveyard I refused to drink in the mornings after work. Rationale then was that only drunks drink at 8AM. After about a year I realized that 8am to me is what 5pm is to you'al, so I will imbibe occasionally.

MikeS.

quote:

Originally posted by Lone Star

quote:

Originally posted by SharonTriv

I allow about 2 ozs. of gin per drink, but the limit is one! A Friday night ritual at our house.

Party pooper!

LoneStar--

Did I neglect to say that we follow up that one Martini by opening a good bottle of wine?

[quoteI was told that the Gibson is named for a British diplomat (early 20th-century?) who hosted many parties but wanted always to be on his toes. He therefore instructed his bartender to serve him plain water, placing a onion in it so he could identify it. Having said that, a Gibson around my house is made with gin.



The first Gibson appeared around 1930, named for the American cartoonist Charles Dana Gibson of "Gibson Girl" fame. The "why" has two variations: 1. Players Bar in NYC ran out of olives, and bartender Charley Connolly substituted two tiny white onions. 2. Gibson was on deadline and did not want to get too tipsy. He secretly asked that a different garnish be put in his Martini glasses of plain water, so they would not be confused with the real Martinis brought to the table.

quote:

Originally posted by Grampy

The first Gibson appeared around 1930, named for the American cartoonist Charles Dana Gibson of "Gibson Girl" fame. The "why" has two variations: 1. Players Bar in NYC ran out of olives, and bartender Charley Connolly substituted two tiny white onions. 2. Gibson was on deadline and did not want to get too tipsy. He secretly asked that a different garnish be put in his Martini glasses of plain water, so they would not be confused with the real Martinis brought to the table.

Many thanks. I'll pass it on to my source.

Love that "Vulgar Boatman" - perfect - too bad I'll never be able to walk up to a bar and order one - it's just something this Martini
Puritan can't do. But I encourage all of you might do so to do it- it ought to catch on in no time

Agree with Grampy on the origin of "Gibson", but had never before heard the part about it being a subterfuge. Just what kind of a wimpy fake was that Charles Dana Gibson? (always beware of guys with three last names).

quote:

Just what kind of a wimpy fake was that Charles Dana Gibson? (always beware of guys with three last names).

Especially guys with three last names that could also be three first or middle names. I thought that sort of thing was reserved for college presidents and assassins.

quote:

Vodka martini? Call it a Non-Connery.

It's settled then...we call it a 003.5...not quite good enough be a 007.

Seafarer, I made myself a couple of "Russis" tonight using Tanqueray Sterling Vodka, about 4 to 1. You'll be disappointed in me, but I had some "Blair's Death Garden" giardiniera (originally recommended to me by a former poster on this site), and I floated a big piece of pickled cauliflower in there.

As you said before, "G-d Save Us"!