Here’s a little known fact:
I grew up on martinis.
Wait a second… That didn’t sound right. Let me explain.
Ever since I was a little kid, I always thought martinis were cool.
You see…
My dad loves martinis.
So does my uncle.
My grandma, so far as I know… hated them.
But…
For some reason, my grandma always had a fully stocked bar in her apartment.
Whenever we used to have family get-togethers at my grandma’s house (Thanksgiving, Passover, etc…), if my dad and uncle were both there, they would always make each other martinis.
Dry gin martinis with olives.
While my uncle and dad were having a great time with their cocktails, many of the other adults would be drinking beer or wine, and commenting on how disgusting martinis were… especially gin martinis.
I always thought that was cool.
It was cool how the martini was a drink that some people just didn’t understand.
It was, for lack of a better term, a man’s drink.
When I turned 21, and began to ordering drinks at bars, I very excited to order my first martini.
From my first sip, I fell in love.
The crisp herbaceousness of the gin.
The almost soapy mouthfeel of that hint of vermouth.
And those olives… I couldn’t get enough of them.
It became almost robotic for me in my twenties…
I would belly up to the bar, and order it the same every time.
“Gin martini, up, with mad olives!”
So…
I’ve got tomorrow off, and I figured that there was only one way to celebrate the beginning of a 3-day weekend…
A martini!
There’s only one problem…
There’s no gin in my house!
But where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The makings of something special...
So here’s how I do a vodka martini…
You're gonna need some ice.
Chillin' with some vermouth.
Heavy Handed
Put a lid on it!
Shake it 'til your hands freeze off... Or 'til it looks like this. Same difference.
Toss out the vermouth, and add mad olives to the glass.
Fill 'er up, and breakfast is served.
The vodka ain’t bad. The martini is still nice and crisp, but it’s lacking that herbaceous kick that only gin can bring.
Please drink these things slowly and responsibly.
Don’t be a jerk.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Stay Rad 