Fifth Day of Cocktails

For the fifth day of cocktails my bartender made for me – five Gin Martinis.

Yes, I need five today. And so will you to get you through this family Holiday season.

As far as martinis go, a traditional martini is always made with gin. Always. It is only more recently that people who couldn’t handle their gin invented a blander cousin – the vodka martini. This recipe takes a slight twist on the original by replacing a twist of lemon or an olive with a slice of cucumber. Traditions are always more fun with a twist. You must use Hendrick’s gin for this particular version,  why Hendrick’s? In addition to the traditional juniper infusion, Hendrick’s uses Bulgarian rose and cucumber to add flavour during the distilling process.[NB: Tanqueray is best for dirty martinis and Bombay works best for martinis with a lemon twist]

Gin-cucumber-martini_380x285

  • 1 ½ oz (40ml) Hendrick’s Gin
  • ¾ oz (20ml) dry vermouth
  • cucumber slice

1. Stir Vermouth and Hendrick’s Gin over ice cubes in mixing glass [gin martinis are better stirred – vodka martinis are better shaken]

2. Strain into martini glass

3. Garnish with a cucumber slice

4. Enjoy

5. Repeat four more times

 

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Christian has been a cultural and style junkie since the age of 6; while most kids were swiping cookies, he was swiping his grandfathers' Patek Philippe. Raised to appreciate art, fashion,design and  literature (yeah, this one actually reads) by a single mother fondly called Jackie-O. Christian quickly went from childhood cultural capital thief to academia protégé. Referred to as the cat's meow by some, too clever by half by others, Christian eschewed the academic life and ran away to join the circus -the fashion circus. Several well-appointed positions later and a career on the rise would be most people's dream but it was time to say fuck off and start all over again.

This is Christian Dare Unedited.