My beverage of choice…What’s your’s?
The Dry Martini
Many of us have a favourite drink it may be water, it may be Coke, a specific wine, a beer, anything really, whilst many of us never even give our beverage of choice favourite drink a second thought.
If you have a favourite beverage, settle in, take a sip, let the answer of why it is your drink come to you. In this short post I want to explore my personal journey of finding my beverage of choice.
The classic dry Martini is my favourite. I love its simplicity, a five parts gin to one part vermouth, a twist of lemon or cocktail olive, a drink with everything I want — simple, hits me in the face, strong, it doesn’t hide its alcohol, no fruit, no colour, it’s just an ice cold drink to be sipped and enjoyed.
It was first found developed in various forms in San Francisco in the second half of the 19th century, but the “astringent hit you in the face” the dry martini, was invented, some New York sources insist by a bartender at the Knickerbocker Hotel, Martini di Arma di Taggia, in 1911.
Over the years glasses, times, emotions, weather have all added up for me to find my drink.
My first cocktail experience was… A first date, at a proper restaurant with another couple, it was time to impress — “a screwdriver please”, the waiter repeated what I thought was my sophisticated order. She returned with wine for the others and Phillips head screwdriver for me. This ‘curl up and die’ first embarrassing attempt to order a cocktail gave me a couple guidelines; don’t order cocktails and don’t pretend to know about beverages.
So for years and years cocktails remained a closed book, but the allure of the aromatics of good dry gin, yet to be found, was not far away.
Ice cold strong gin and tonics while watching sunsets over Newcastle Beach. Sambuca the finish of many meals at the now sadly closed Frattini in Leichhardht gave me a taste for something strong but simple. I was introduced to just sipping your ice cold spirit in London as they led me to Laphroaig over ice. All these slow drinks triggered relaxed times with friends — you can’t gulp down a Laphroaig — unless of course if you want to.
Strong, ice cold, simple, in your face — I discovered the dry martini in my mid-30’s.
My martini is more than a drink it is the beginning of unhurried time, the start of an evening of relaxation, a lunch with nothing to do afterwards. I never drink it alone and only ever in the company good friends. As I take a sip from the simple glass it reminds me of the wealth of relaxation and friendship and more.
In my heart there is a special place for the martini — my father. The drink brings back memories of special times with my parents. From a young age we went to dinner I remember my father ordering a pre-dinner martini before a fun if a little bit formal — dining is getting more relaxed by the day — evening. With a smile I remember his order I’ll have an extra dry martini made with Gordons and Noilly Prat please.
Finding a good martini can be difficult often too much vermouth makes for a soft, sweeter martini lacking the astringency necessary for its ‘take your breath away’ imbibing. You sip a martini, savour it, relax, enjoy its purity and never worry if it’s shaken or stirred
If your bar menu does not include a dry martini, they will make to order, barman love purists.
Cheers
