Two bottles, two stories

Today’s classic cocktail is a mix of two bottles and two stories. The first story is pretty well-known. It’s about the famous English statesman, Winston Churchill. The man loved a good Martini but had a special way of preparing the drink. He must have stated something like “Just glance at the vermouth bottle briefly from across the room while pouring the juniper distillate freely”. 

Another great mind, Ernest Hemingway, limited the vermouth to just a teaspoon. So I was looking for a Martini-style drink, heavy on the gin, with just a subtle scent of vermouth. 

The Hemingway story also states that he froze his glass and stirred the gin ice and ice cold. That reminded me of another story. A few years ago I attended a lunchtime workshop by Suntory, learning interesting things about Japanese spirits and ice carving. One of the most interesting workshops I’ve attended, because of all the side stories told by brand ambassador Zoran Peric. 

One of the stories was about partying in Japan. We’ve all seen the shiny ice buckets with Champagne bottles in our European clubs and discos, but Zoran told us they do the same thing in Japan with a bottle of whisky or gin. They bring a bottle of spirit to the table, accompanied by longdrink glasses and a large bucket of ice balls. The colder the drink, the easier it actually is to drink.

With both stories combined, I played around with the brand new bottle of Japanese Roku gin, the “Sakura Bloom” limited edition.  This special bottle is a homage to Hanami, Roku Sakura Bloom layers sweet florals with hints of saltiness from blossom leaves. A blend of six uniquely Japanese botanicals enhances its natural sweetness, creating a gin in full bloom. With this flavourful gin, I wanted to mix up a strong and ice-cold Martini, with just a subtle hint of vermouth, as a tribute to those mentioned above. It didn’t disappoint. 

Winston’s Sakura

Ingredients

50ml Roku Gin Sakura Bloom

15ml Cucielo Dry vermouth

Method

Add 50ml of gin to a small bottle and keep it in the freezer for 24 hours. Pick a nice vintage coupe and rinse it with dry vermouth. Add the Gin. Let it breathe for a few moments. Enjoy. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations. Everything I write is my own opinion.

Grob Vays Hunt (Dirty White Dog, Israeli edition)

Indulging in my hobby for a span of over 8 enriching years, I find myself in a realm of contentment. Throughout this journey, I've embarked on a delightful array of experiences that once seemed beyond the realm of possibility. Venturing across borders, I've wandered through the picturesque landscapes of France, Spain, and Italy, all in the name of my passion.

My hobby has unveiled an assortment of captivating moments, including immersing myself in workshops that unravelled the art of whisky blending. A captivating memory involves being immersed in the world of wine menus, cocktail menus, and even try out restaurant menus, an honour that never ceases to amaze me. Reflecting on this journey, it's hard to pinpoint any notable sources of frustration, though a flicker of curiosity remains.

I've been granted the privilege of sampling an eclectic array of spirits from various corners of the world. Yet, often, these encounters have centred around commercial offerings or carefully curated cask samples. What truly stirs my intrigue is the unadulterated essence of these spirits – the 'new make' spirit, freshly born from the distillation process. This delicate elixir, the true soul of distillation, remains safeguarded by many distilleries, a treasure rarely shared even in the context of workshops or distillery visits.

Gone are the days of clandestine moonshine; however, a refreshing exception can be found in distilleries like Milk & Honey, nestled in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel. Here, a spirit of innovation and openness thrives. A spark of interest from enthusiasts, and they readily bottle their New Make spirit.

In the ever-evolving landscape of media, Belgian television screens are currently graced by the presence of series spotlighting Jewish families. This trend presented an opportune moment to craft a libation that pays homage to the distinctive Israeli spirit. Enter the scene, with the "Grob Vays Hunt” (Dirty White Dog), a tantalizing concoction that offers a Moonshine-inspired twist on the classic Dirty Martini.

Grob Vays Hunt 

Ingredients

60ml M&H New Make

20ml Dry Vermouth

5ml Simple Syrup

A dash of olive brine (Feeling adventurous? Explore with different pickle brines)

Method

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass generously filled with ice.

Stir the mixture gracefully for 15 seconds, allowing the flavours to harmonize. Strain the elixir into a chilled Martini glass, a vessel of elegance. Garnish this masterpiece with a solitary green olive, a symbol of both tradition and innovation.

As I savour each sip of the Grob Vays Hunt, I'm reminded of the remarkable journey that has unfolded through my beloved hobby. A journey that has taken me across borders, into distilleries, and now, into the realm of mixology, where creativity intertwines with tradition. So, as I raise my glass, I celebrate not only the spirits that have quenched my thirst but the endless possibilities that lie ahead in my cherished journey. 

With this drink, I also salute my friend Glenn, who is leaving his position at Cinoco Spirits to explore new opportunities. Without the endless support of this dedicated spirits professional, my blog would not have attracted the audience it marks today. Thank you, Glenn, hope to see you again soon. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

"First Blood" Martini

I’m always looking for interesting recipes to simplify. To strip them down to a maximum of 3 to 4 ingredients, without losing too much flavour. 

For this recipe, I changed the combination of vodka and grape juice into “Grape vodka”. One less ingredient, but still the same flavour profile. The original was called the Blood Martini because the colour is very dark red. It’s often served at Halloween parties. Because of the combination of liqueur and syrup, it’s a rather sweet drink. Balance with care! 

"First Blood" Martini

Ingredients

60 ml Grape Vodka

30 ml Ginger Liqueur

5 ml Blackberry syrup

Method

Add all ingredients to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake for 15 seconds, fine strain in a Martini glass. Garnish with a fresh blackberry.

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Egg Cream Martini

Egg liqueur (in Dutch, “advocaat”) is a yellow, rich and creamy drink with a smooth, custard-like consistency. It’s often used as a kind of extravagant little dessert to accompany your coffee. 

You could use egg liqueur in cocktails, but there aren’t that many options available due to its consistency. I would rather call it a liquid dessert instead of a cocktail.

My friends at Presentda.be have sent me a few tasters of t Geel Genot, locally produced egg liqueur by Christophe and Anne. They launched a whole range of products with tastes like cappuccino, amaretto, limoncello, chocolate and banana, … to give you new taste experiences with each jar. 

My favourite? The egg liqueur with banana. The aroma and taste throw me back in time to my teenage years, sipping Pisang Ambon longdrinks 😉 

Egg Cream Martini

Ingredients
30 ml ‘t Geel Genot Advocaat Cappuccino 
30 ml Vodka
30 ml Bailey’s Irish Cream

Method
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake like your life depends on it for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish is optional, I would rather serve it as a dessert, paired with fresh baked cookies.

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Cucielo Vermouth Day

Sometimes I regret not living in a more southern country. I absolutely love the aperitivo culture that’s all around in Italy, Spain and even in the south of France. One of the most used bottles in aperitivo-bars is vermouth. In Spain, they even call some of those bars “vermuterias”. 

A good vermouth is probably the most versatile bottle in your bar. You can drink it neat, on ice, with a mixer or as a spice-adding ingredient in lots of classic (and not-so-classic) cocktails. Original classics like the Manhattan, Martini or Negroni all call for decent quality vermouth. 

This should give you reason enough to taste the vermouth before you pour it into any longdrink or cocktail. A cocktail is only as good as the sum of the quality of its ingredients. Read that again and think about it. You can find low budget vermouth in supermarkets, cheap as chips. But will that low-quality bottle add the desired spicy touch to your Martini? Probably not. 

One of the better brands for good quality vermouth is Cucielo, which we’ve already spotlighted before on this blog. 

March 21 is #NationalVermouthDay, a perfect opportunity to taste and sample some of their bottles. I would recommend tasting vermouths with a few ice cubes because neat vermouths are often slightly syrupy. Next, try the vermouths with a mixer. A neutral tonic is perfect, but if you like it slightly sweeter, why not use a lemonade. My friends at the official distributor of Cucielo have sent me a bottle of both the Rosso and Bianco, but I also made a mix of both. Why? Because in some cocktails you need a mix of dry and sweet vermouth or a mix of white and sweet vermouth. Once you have tasted the vermouths this way, you can go on to using them for a deliciously crafted cocktail. 

Cucielo Bianco is mostly influenced by artemisia, pink pepper, cardamom, green apple, elderflower and pomegranate. Cucielo Rosso is mostly influenced by artemisia, yarrow, Chinese gentian, Sicilian bitter oranges, vanilla pods and cloves.

I hope I could inspire you to have a go yourself. I finished my tasting with a Golden Martini, stirred to perfection.

Golden Martini

Ingredients
50 ml London Dry Gin
25 ml Cucielo Bianco vermouth
1 barspoon Maraschino liqueur
3 dashes Angostura Orange bitters

Method
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir and strain in a chilled Martini or Nick & Nora glass. I think it also looks stunning in a nice antique port glass. Pinch an Orange zest on top to express the oils. No garnish, keep it clean. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Delmonico Special

Today I’m stirring another take on the classic Martini. A couple of days ago I saw a posting of another drinksblogger who added a splash of brandy to a Martini to add some fruity flavours. That’s interesting and actually the base of another classic recipe: The Delmonico Special, a spirit-forward slow-sipping variation on a “very wet Martini” packed with power. This is already a variation on the classic Delmonico, which is basically a Manhattan with cognac instead of whiskey. Just to show you that variations can move in all directions.

I’m mixing up my version with a focus on the grape flavours.

Delmonico Special

Ingredients

45 ml Sorgin (Gin based on grapes)

7,5 ml Rémy Martin 1738 Cognac

22,5 ml Leonce Dry vermouth

22,5 ml Gonzalez Byass La Coppa Sweet vermouth

A dash of Angostura aromatic bitters

Method

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir for 15 seconds and strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a nice cocktail cherry. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

The Slightly Yellow Dirty Dog - Mellow Corn

Each year I seem to discover a few spirits that are somehow ‘different’ and really leave their mark in my memory. This year I had this feeling with Eddu buckwheat whisky from Normandy (FR), but also with this old-school Mellow Corn from Kentucky (US). For starters they might get the prize for least attractive labelling. But this screaming yellow bottle does have a nice surprise inside.

Mellow Corn is a Straight Corn Whiskey, which seems to be the predecessor of Bourbon. With this bottle we are absolutely going retro in booze-history.

Mashbill: 80% Corn, 12% Malted Barley and 8% Rye. Bottled at 100-Proof (50% Alcohol). Aged four years in a once-used bourbon barrel. The result is a lighter, straw coloured spirit. Heaven Hill is one of the last distillers that still produces this unique Straight Corn Whiskey.

My followers know I like a good Bourbon, so you can already imagine that I also like this whiskey. With 80% corn it’s pretty sweet, but at the same time it has a lot of spicy influences.

• Nose: Oak and delicate spices
• Taste: Full-bodied and textured, with a softly spiced sweetness.
• Finish: Sweet and chewy like a Barbadian rum.

Americans love to drink Bourbon, chased by a shot of pickle brine. They call this combination the pickleback. This tradition shows that “pickled” matches really good with corn whiskey. That brought me to the idea to use this whiskey for a variation on the Dirty Martini. I know that back in the days of illegal moonshine, they already did this with unaged spirit and called it the ‘Dirty White Dog’.

Slightly Yellow Dirty Dog

Ingredients
50 ml Mellow Corn Whiskey
20 ml Leoncé vermouth
10 ml Olive brine

Method
Add everything to your mixglass with lots of ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain in a chilled Martini glass. Add an olive.

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

The Perfect Grape Martini

Over the past years I’ve already covered lots of Martini cocktails on this blog. The variations are almost endless: Dry Martini, Reverse Martini, Breakfast Martini, Espresso Martini, Pornstar Martini,… But I don’t think I ever mixed up a real 50/50 Martini. 

The 50/50 Martini is actually more or less the original Martini, with even parts gin and vermouth. Sometimes confused with the Perfect Martini, which still has more gin than vermouth, but it does split the vermouth in even parts dry and sweet vermouth. 

Fact check 
In recipes pre-1900 the Martini was made with even parts of Old Tom Gin (a sweeter style of gin) and sweet vermouth. Around 1920 the Dry Martini became popular with a mix of dry gin and dry vermouth. The ratio changed to 2:1 which developed even further with just a rinse of vermouth as the most extreme. Unless you’re a fan of Churchill and only “look at the bottle of vermouth from across the room, while pouring a glass of gin”, but that quote might also be a myth 😉 

Martini Basics  

• Dry Martini : A Martini with much less vermouth. The less vermouth, the drier your Martini. Ratios can be anything between 3:1 and 100:1 (=just a rinse)
• Wet Martini : A Martini with more vermouth, which makes it sweeter than average. The more vermouth, the ‘wetter’ your Martini. A classic Wet Martini today is 3:1, which is just above the threshold for the Dry Martini. 
• 50/50 Martini : A wet Martini with even parts gin and vermouth
• Reverse Martini or Upside-Down Martini : A wet Martini with more vermouth than gin
• Dirty Martini : A Martini with a splash of olive brine added to the recipe
• Perfect Martini : A Martini where the vermouth is split in even parts dry and sweet vermouth. 
• Naked Martini : A Martini without vermouth. Churchill would have loved it 😉 

There are three standard garnishes for Martini drinks to pick from : A green olive, a lemon twist or a pickled onion, which changes the name to a Gibson.

Last week I received a parcel with a bottle of gin and a bottle of vermouth, both created by François Lurton, winemaker in France with Sauvignon Blanc grapes. I have met François a few years ago at the Belgian launch event for Sorgin, I still remember his passion for the grape. These two bottles are created with a lot of love for the fruits of his vineyards. No better choice for a 50/50 Martini.

The Perfect Grape Martini

Ingredients
1 part Sorgin Gin
1 part Leoncé Extra Dry vermouth
1 dash of orange bitters

Method
Add all ingredients in a mixing glass with lots of ice. Use even parts gin and vermouth. Stir for 15 seconds and strain in a pre-chilled coupe. Garnish with a couple of grapes. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

After Dinner Martini for real coffee lovers

It’s rather unusual for this season, but this summer I’ve seen several new bottles hitting the shelves. Today I’m combining two new Belgian products in a delicious after dinner cocktail.

Insurgent Cold Drip : Imagine roughly cut coffee beans and ice cold water. It takes 18 hours to create cold drip coffee, drip by drip. The caffeine level is almost double from normal coffee but all the rough edges are gone. 70% less sours and bitters. 100% clean and natural in every single drop.  

Pinguino Vermouth : Seasoned Chef Wim Schoofs shared this project with me almost a year ago. It took until now to prepare for the launch. Wim has spent many years finetuning the recipe for this premium vermouth, made with herbs and spices from all around the world. It’s absolutely refreshing in a highball with tonic. But when you use it as an ingredient for a proper cocktail, in my opinion it develops very interesting flavors which are more like an amaro. But just to be clear, Pinguino is wine-based just like any other vermouth. Very special product that really changes in taste when sampling it neat, with ice, with water or with any other mixer. 

No, this cocktail is not your average Espresso Martini. I’ve seen similar recipes before with very herbal amari, but never with a vermouth. The flavors and aromas of the vermouth absolutely take the lead. The coffee undertones define the type of drink. This recipe will not create a thick and creamy foam layer like a classic Espresso Martini. In the taste it will highlight raw and pure tones instead of the silky softness you’re used to. It’s really another type of drink, but very tasty. I dare to state this is a coffee cocktail for real coffee enthusiasts. 

After-dinner Martini for real coffee lovers

Ingredients
50 ml Filliers Grain Vodka
30 ml Pinguino Vermouth
25 ml Resurgent Cold Drip coffee
10 ml Honey syrup

Method
Add everything to a shaker with lots of ice and shake for 10 to 12 seconds. Strain into your glass. It works pretty good in a tumbler with fresh ice, but you can also serve it as a Martini. I don’t really need garnish on this one, but when you serve it to your guests maybe add a few coffee beans just as you would do with an Espresso Martini. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Tropical Martini - Señor Weber Oro

Tikidrinks are popular all around the world. But in most cases, you either like ‘m or you don’t. If you don’t like tikidrinks, the prejudice is often “too much juices”. Let’s try to do tikidrinks in another style and keep it very simple with equal parts. 

A Martini-style drink always needs a good base spirit. For this one we picked Señor Weber Oro, a golden rum from Destilaria H. Weber in Brazil, a well known distillery for excellent Cachaça spirits. 

The Weber distillery launched two new rum products : Señor Weber Blanco and Señor Weber Oro. Made with sugarcane molasses, Blanco rests for a year in a stainless steel tank before bottling, while the Oro is rested in three woods, passing through barrels of amburana, balm and American oak.

Tropical Martini

Ingredients
30 ml Vanilla Vodka (You can make this yourself by throwing a vanilla pod in your bottle of vodka and let it sit for a few days)
30 ml Señor Weber Rum Oro
30 ml Clement Mahina Coco
A splash of pineapple juice (I actually squeezed a wedge of fresh pineapple)

Method

Add everything to your shaker with lots of ice and give it a good shake. Fine strain in a Martini glass and garnish with pineapple.

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

AmericaNA & NAgroni (Mocktails)

No drinks are more Italian than these two iconic aperitivo’s based on Campari : The Americano and the Negroni. Could we mix them without alcohol, while keeping those typical Italian flavours?

I have tried this before in the past, but newer and better non-alcoholic products tempt me to improve these drinks in yet another try …

For your next #mocktailmonday I’ll give you recipes for both drinks. If you’re not able to find a good quality NA Amaro, you could try Monin Bitter. But you might have to adjust the measurements in that case.   

The jury is still out on the AmericaNA, the result depends very much on the measurement of the tonic. (I tried first with soda water but that - really - didn’t work). The NAgroni has the right flavour-mix and is a true winner !!!

P.S. I received this nice pocket flask with Martini Vibrante NA with the "No compromise club" sticker in my mail. With this great new products indeed no compromises have to be made. You can have a nice and flavorful drink, without the need for alcohol. 

AmericaNA

Ingredients
45 ml The Bitter Note (NA Amaro)
45 ml Martini Vibrante Non Alcoholic (NA vermouth style aperitif)
Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic 

Method
Add the amaro and Martini directly in the glass. Don’t stir in a mixing glass, because you don’t want extra dilution. Add them to a tumbler with ice and top with tonic. Stir very gently during 5 seconds. Garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel. 

NAgroni

Ingredients
30 ml The Bitter Note (NA Amaro)
30 ml Martini Vibrante Non Alcoholic (NA vermouth style aperitif)
30 ml Nona June (NA replacement for gin)

Method
Add all 3 ingredients directly in the glass. Don’t stir in a mixing glass, because you don’t want extra dilution. Just add them to your tumbler with ice and stir very gently for 5 seconds. Garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Xmas Gifts Parade 2020 : Leonce Vermouth

In the past we already reviewed Sorgin and a bit later the yellow edition. From the same house, we now got a nice bottle of vermouth. Leonce Extra Dry Vermouth has a base of fortified sauvignon blanc. In this range they also have a red vermouth and even a Malbec based vermouth.

After the succesful launch of their gins, Sabine en François Lurton started working on this new range of premium vermouths. Each bottle stands for one of the favourite cepages of François : Sauvignon Blanc Gascogne (France), Maury Le Roussillon (France) and Malbec de Chacayes (Argentina). 

How can I mix up this vermouth in a cocktail, which really highlights the vermouth instead of other spirits? Let’s do a “Reverse Dry Martini”.

Reverse Dry Martini

Ingredients
50 ml Leonce Extra Dry Vermouth
20 ml Sorgin Barrel Aged
1 dash Orange bitters

Method
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir for 15 seconds and strain in a pre-chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
No olive, you want to highlight the taste of the grapes in this one. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Autumn Gin sour

Temperatures are dropping, Saint Nicolas and Santa Claus are already on their way to bring your presents. Let’s do some more autumn drinks, before winter comes knocking on the door. 

Are you also looking forward to this festive season? We are in our final preparations to start the photoshoots for our annual end-of-year series. 

This Autumn Gin Sour is a tasty variation on Salvatore Calabrese’s Breakfast Martini.

Autumn Gin Sour

Ingredients
50 ml London Dry Gin
25 ml Lemon juice
25 ml Grand Marnier (or Cointreau Noir)
10 ml Simple Syrup (careful with this, depends on the sourness of the lemon)
1 bs Orange Marmalade (You need a good quality marmalade with lots of flavour)
1 egg white

Method
Put all ingredients in a shaker without ice. Shake vigorously to create foam. You can always add the spring of a strainer to really whisk up the foam. Add ice and shake again until the shaker is freezing cold. Double Strain in a fancy coupe. Garnish with edible flowers. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

The Wet & Dry Martini

When it comes to Martinis, I like them either dry or dirty. And when I like them dry, I really mean dry. Not like Winston Churchill who only glanced at the vermouth-bottle from across the room, but still pretty dry. 

Usually I make my Martinis with a dry vermouth, but for this one I really wanted to experiment with sherry, which is of course a very dry fortified wine. It took me a while to get it right and it was another blogger, Matthias, who gave me the ‘split wine’ tip that solved my problem. 

It doesn’t matter if you want your Martini wet or dry, adjust the measures between gin and wines as you please. But do try mixing sherry and vermouth. It works like a charm in this ‘Wet & Dry Martini’.

Wet because you can make it as wet as you want (=using more wines), dry because we are using dry vermouth and a pretty dry sherry. 

The Wet & Dry Martini

Ingredients
60 ml London Dry Gin
10 ml Dry vermouth
10 ml Amontillado sherry
1 dash orange bitters

Method
Stir in a mixing glass with lots of ice. Long enough, you really want this drink to be cold. 
Strain in a prechilled Martini glass. Add a single olive or lemon twist. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Frozen & Bottled Martini

Over the last few weeks I’ve seen a lot of bloggers experimenting with frozen cocktails. The concept is pretty easy : Add your ingredients to a small jar or bottle and put it in the freezer for at least one night. Serve straight from the bottle in the glass. Add some garnish and ready to serve. 

First of all, this is nothing new. It reminded me of the Dukes Martini, served at the Dukes Hotel in London. (Fun fact : I once worked for a company based at the same square!). They also freeze their gin (or vodka) and just add three dashes of vermouth in the glass. This special serve was invented in the mid-80s by Salvatore Calabrese and is also known as the Martini that will really get you drunk, because it holds as much alcohol as three normal Martinis. The bar has a two-drink maximum for this serve. In the world of spirits and cocktails Salvatore became known as ‘The Maestro’, he also invented the Breakfast Martini. 

Back to my homebar, where I also wanted to play around with this idea. Bottled cocktails have certain advantages. Because of the concept, the ingredients have more time to blend to perfection. Freezing the bottle will have some more influence. First, I really like my drinks very cold and I know I’m not the only one. Second, the effect of the alcohol will be slightly softened by the temperature. 

I decided to freeze two simple experiments: A Martini, but also a Negroni that I will taste during the upcoming #Negroniweek. 

When you serve a cocktail straight from the bottle, you will have no dilution from the ice because there will be no shaking or stirring. You need to compensate the lack of dilution by adding a little bit of water into your bottle. The amount of water will be depending on the ABV of the cocktail. A Martini or Manhattan will require a bit more water than a Negroni. 

Of course you will give the jar or bottle a quick shake before placing it in your freezer. James Bond’s “Shaken not stirred” could really work this way 😉 
The result ? This was really delicious. My kind of drink. I'm absolutely going to do this more often !!!

Frozen Martini

Ingredients
60 ml Broker’s Gin 20 ml Dry Vermouth35 ml water1 dash of Orange bitters

Method
Add everything to a small jar or bottle. Give it a shake and put it in the freezer. 
Chill your glass. Strain the cocktail straight from the bottle or jar into the glass. Garnish with an olive or lemon peel. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Martini on the rocks

 

Warning : If you are a die-hard Martini-enthusiast and you already freak out completely when you hear James Bond order a Martini “shaken, not stirred” (*), you might need to take a pill to calm down before reading on.

In this article I’m talking about a new trend in American bars, or at least a revived trend: Martinis served on ice in a tumbler. Yes, read that again. On the positive side, your drink will stay cool much longer, on the negative side it will water down a little bit because ice will always do that. I tried it and actually liked it. I do like my drinks really cool.

I started from a Dry Martini recipe, because I also wanted to keep the color as transparent as possible. White vermouths often are a bit yellow. The result is a very clear drink in which the block of clear ice completely disappears. 

Martini on the rocks

Ingredients
60 ml Beefeater Gin
20 ml Forest Dry vermouth

Method
Stir the gin and vermouth in a mixglass with lots of ice until perfectly chilled. Strain into a tumbler with a big chunk of ice. Add an olive if you want. I kept it on the side to display the clearness of the drink.

(*) In my opinion James Bond likes his Martinis “shaken, not stirred” because he really wants more dilution. He needs to lower the alcohol to keep his mind clear to combat the villains.

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Gloomy Martini + How to upgrade your drink

 

“Ok, I understand how to make simple cocktails at home with 2 or 3 ingredients. Now how can I easily upgrade these cocktails, besides swapping ingredients for other brands ?”

Adding a few drops of cocktail bitters does miracles. Cocktail bitters are the salt and pepper of the bartender. Angostura bitters and Orange Bitters should be standard in any (home)bar, since they are mandatory ingredients in lots of classic cocktails. But there are so many different bitters on the market, absolutely worth a try. On this blog you will also find a few recipes for homemade bitters. It’s easier than it sounds.

Most cocktails have a sweet ingredient which is mostly a syrup, cordial or liqueur. There are endless possibilities in playing with flavours in either one of these. Adding a little bit of flavoured syrup can change your entire drink. Always be careful, don’t use too much because it will ruin your drink.

My favourite : Adding a herbal and/or anise flavour to your drink. I like to use a good quality Absinthe, but you can also use Pastis, Pernod, Anisette, Ouzo, Raki, …
And you can do this in many ways :

• A rinse : Add a tiny bit of anise liqueur to your glass and swirl it around to add a thin layer to the inside of glass. Remove the rest.
• A coating in ‘Double Strainger’ style : The same as a rinse, but I don’t remove the precious high quality liqueur. Never use too much or it will alter your recipe.
• A mist or spray : Use a small spray bottle to add a mist of herbal flavours over your cocktail.
• A float : Add a very thin layer of spirit on top of your drink. When the cocktail is already in your glass, add the extra layer by carefully pouring it over the backside of a barspoon. This method is also used for adding a float of heavily peated whisky on top of a sour (e.g. Penicillin)

As an example, I’ll share this delicious recipe for an upgraded Martini :

 

Gloomy Martini

 

Ingredients

5 cl Beefeater Gin

2 cl Forest Dry Vermouth

½ bs Grenadine

Absinthe float

 

Method

Bring the gin, vermouth and grenadine together in a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir for 20 seconds and strain in a Martini glass. Add the absinthe float on top over the back of your barspoon. Enjoy !

 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Stijlvolle Geschenktips : S72 Vodka by Stefan Everts

 

Een tijdje terug kregen we Stefan Everts op bezoek op de redactie van deze blog. Hij kwam toen zijn S72 Gin voorstellen, maar had nog een kleinigheidje achter de hand. Naast de gin maakt hij namelijk ook een S72 Vodka op dezelfde basis. Tijd om deze ook eens aan een test te onderwerpen. Het is niet mijn bedoeling om met deze vodka unieke cocktails te ontwerpen, wel om te testen of het unieke karakter van de vodka werkt in verschillende klassieke cocktails.

Het is een vodka met dezelfde hoofdtonen van violet en citrus als bij de gin. Om deze het best in te schatten in een cocktail maakte ik er ineens twee. Eentje met vier ingrediënten om te kijken hoe de unieke smaak van de vodka overeind blijft, maar daarnaast ook een Vodka Martini, een echte ‘spirit forward’ cocktail die helemaal gedragen moet worden door de spirit. Voor deze laatste koos ik dus bewust niet voor mijn favoriete Vesper, omdat ik geen invloed wou van een gin.

Ik had vooraf misschien twijfels over de slaagkansen voor deze oefening, maar de vodka bracht het er eigenlijk best goed vanaf. De violettoets blijft vooral hangen in de afdronk, wat toch wel een leuk effect geeft in beide cocktails.

S72 Cosmo

Ingrediënten
4 cl S72 Vodka by Stefan Everts
4 cl veenbessensap
3 cl citroensap
3 cl Sinaasappellikeur

Bereiding
Krachtig shaken met veel ijs. Doorheen een zeefje serveren in een voorgekoeld martiniglas. Versier met een mooie sinaasappelzeste of een cocktailkers.

S72 Vodka Martini

Ingrediënten
6 cl S72 Vodka by Stefan Everts
2 cl Dry Martini

Bereiding
Beide ingrediënten samenvoegen in een mengbeker met ijs. Krachtig roeren tot de gewenste temperatuur bereikt is. Strainen in een voorgekoeld Martiniglas. Eén olijf in het glas.
 
Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

National Martini Day met Tobermory Gin

 

Vorige week nam ik deel aan een boottocht met whiskytasting in de Westhoek. Eén van de grootste verrassingen die dag was geen whisky, maar een zeer smaakvolle gin. Enkele flessen Tobermory Gin werden speciaal overgevlogen voor het event. Ze komen pas binnenkort in de handel in ons land, maar wij mochten ze alvast proeven. Eén van die begeerde primeur flessen kwam mee naar onze testbar.

Uiteraard heb ik sinds de start van deze blog al heel wat gins mogen proeven. Wanneer een gin geproduceerd wordt door een whiskystokerij was het resultaat eigenlijk keer op keer verbazingwekkend goed. Ik denk dan vb. aan The Botanist, wat toch één van mijn favoriete kruidige gins is. De bekendste die in dat rijtje past is uiteraard Hendrick’s, die helemaal alleen verantwoordelijk was voor de start van de gin-hype, inmiddels een jaar of tien geleden. Momenteel pakken ze stevig uit met hun gloednieuwe Midsummer Solstice botteling.
 
Maar terug naar onze primeur : De Tobermory stokerij is twee jaar gesloten geweest voor renovatiewerken en komt nu met een aantal mooie nieuwigheden, niet enkel het whiskygamma werd onder handen genomen, maar ze lanceerden ook hun Tobermory Hebridean Gin. In een nieuwe stookruimte staat een 60 liter test-stookketel “Wee Mary”, waarmee deze eerste batches Tobermory Gin in beperkte oplage werden geproduceerd. Deze zomer zal een nieuwe grotere stookketel worden geïnstalleerd, bedoeld voor de verdere productie van deze gin.

Tobermory Gin bevat lokale botanicals van het eiland Mull zoals vlierbloesem, thee en wilde heide, maar ook een klein percentage van hun ‘new make’ malt spirit. Deze voegt een olieachtige romigheid toe aan het pallet van deze gin. Toch een vrij uniek aspect voor deze nieuwe spirit.

We proefden deze gin puur, met tonic maar op deze #NationalMartiniDay uiteraard ook als Martini. Deze keer kies ik geen droge, maar een gewone witte vermouth die ook wat romiger is.

Tobermory Martini

Ingrediënten
5 cl Tobermory Gin
2 cl witte vermouth

Bereiding
We negeren Churchill’s advies (*) en voegen beide ingrediënten samen in een mengbeker met veel ijs. Stevig roeren, want een Martini moet echt wel ijskoud zijn. Strainen in een Martiniglas of coupe. Twee groene olijven, omdat twee altijd beter zijn dan één.

(*) Churchill’s Martini :
“Add gin to a mixing glass full of ice and stir to combine. While stirring glance occasionally at a bottle of vermouth from across the room. Pour into a chilled glass. Garnish with a single cocktail olive”.

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Sherrylovers Martini

Dit is beslist niet de mooiste cocktail die ik al ooit heb gemaakt, maar ik wou ook eens iets heel puurs doen. Tenslotte ben ik ook een grote fan van de Dry Martini en de Vesper Martini.

Laat ik maar beginnen met de stelling dat niet iedereen deze cocktail lekker zal vinden. Hij heeft wat men kan noemen de behoefte aan een ‘acquired taste’, net zoals dat vb. ook geldt voor een Negroni. Ik ken bijna niemand die een Negroni van de eerste keer echt lekker vond. Probeer het een paar keer en je wil niks anders meer.

Deze Martini-variant zal absoluut in de smaak vallen bij iedereen die houdt van sherry. Je kan het vergelijken met een Dry Martini, maar de smaak wordt door de sherry nog veel ‘droger’. In deze ‘crisp & clear’ cocktail is het dan ook de sherry die de smaak echt domineert. De Angostura bitters zorgen voor een klein beetje extra ‘afkruiding’, zoals bij een Pink Martini.

Sherrylovers Martini

Ingrediënten
4 cl Broker’s London Dry Gin
4 cl Tio Pepe Sherry (Palomino Fino)
Enkele druppels Angostura bitters

Bereiding
De gin en sherry gaan we samen roeren in een mengbeker met ijs. Roer minstens 15 seconden. Strain in een voorgekoeld Martiniglas of kies zoals wij voor een leuk vintage portoglas. Voeg enkele druppels Angostura bitters toe.