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Make mine gin

Shaken or stirred, there's something elegant about the perfect martini
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January 24th, 2007 issue

KURT VINION/THE PRAGUE POST
Clearly a special drink: The martini is a cocktail to sip after work or with friends.
By Martin Hamáček

Every cocktail has a point of origin that began a long evolutionary process. This recipe represents the classic martini, as sipped by gentlemen in the days before vermouth fell out of favor.

It is important to use a stemmed, V-shaped glass — not just for aesthetics, but to keep your hands from warming the cocktail. Also, consider whether you want your martini shaken or stirred. Shaking waters down the gin and softens the flavors noticeably. Most importantly, you should only use the best-quality spirits.

The Traditional Martini
Ingredients Shaken Stirred
8 centiliters (2.7 fluid ounces) premium gin, preferably a London Dry or Plymouth.
2 centiliters premium vermouth (Noilly Pratt is my choice)
Ice cubes
1 or 2 olives, pitted		 Fill V-shaped cocktail glass with crushed ice cubes.
Place four to five medium ice cubes in a cocktail shaker.
Pour gin and vermouth over ice in shaker.
Close the shaker and shake firmly and quickly for 20–30 seconds.
Dump ice from cocktail glass.
Strain gin and vermouth mixture into glass.
Garnish with an olive on a pick. Alternately, peel a slice of rind from a lemon or lime, rub along the rim of the glass, then give it a twist and drop into the cocktail. For a "Gibson," substitute a cocktail onion for the olive.		 Follow the procedure to the left, filling glass with ice and placing four to five cubes in the shaker.
Pour gin and vermouth over ice in shaker.
Carefully insert a long mixing spoon into the shaker without breaking the ice.
Stir at a moderate pace for about 20 seconds.
Dump ice from cocktail glass.
Strain gin and vermouth mixture into glass.
Garnish as left.

With good ingredients and proper technique, the reward is perfection.

Martin Hamáček is bar manager at Barego in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, located at Nebovidská 1, Prague 1–Malá Strana. Tel. 233 088 776.


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