People tend to forget, in their straight liquor binges, that cocktails aren’t just made of 2 ingredients. The best cocktails in the world need a couple of liquors to come together to make them shine. Dry vermouth, a fortified wine, and an essential when making a Martini is horribly under-utilised and ignored. I’m here to change that with a list of recipes that’ll have you rushing to get your hands on some.
Don’t worry, this isn’t going to kill you but it sure is a deadly combination. Gin, dry vermouth and absinthe come together to form a heady mixture, which is a brand new take on a gin martini. Brace yourselves for when the absinthe hits, everyone!
What you’ll need:
- 60 ml gin
- 7 ml dry vermouth
- 7 ml absinthe
Instructions:
- Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass/shaker with ice and stir till chilled
- Strain into a chilled glass and serve
‘Where have you been, old pal? I missed you!’ will never sound more authentic than when you make this your go-to cocktail after a hard day’s night at work. This one’s slightly bitter but so am I, and trust me when I say you’ll be a fan in no time! This recipe by San Fran’s Comstock Saloon’s bartender extraordinaire Jonny Raglin given to Saveur is a smash hit.
What you’ll need:
- 60 ml rye whiskey
- 30 ml Campari
- 30 ml dry vermouth
- Lemon twist as garnish
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients except lemon twist into a shaker filled with ice
- Stir till well chilled
- Strain into glass and garnish with lemon twist before serving
This one’s a classic. It was created at the Waldorf-Astoria by Johnny Solon in 1906, and named after the then new Bronx Zoo, after which it quickly caught on. It was once even included in a list of world’s 10 most famous cocktails so who are we to not try it, right?
What you’ll need:
- 44 ml gin
- 7 ml dry vermouth
- 7 ml sweet vermouth
- 22 ml orange juice
- Orange slice as garnish
Instructions:
- Pour all ingredients except garnish into a shaker filled with ice
- Shake well and strain into chilled martini glass
- Add orange slice as garnish and serve
Instead of opting for the usual Martini to end things with a banger, I decided to surprise you all by sharing the recipe of Gibson, the Martini’s slightly more savoury cousin. Here, the olives are swapped out for onions which might seem like an odd combo, but considering how well-loved the drink is can’t be all that bad.
What you’ll need:
- 81 ml gin
- 22 ml dry vermouth
- Onions as garnish
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients except garnish into mixing glass filled with ice
- Stir well and strain into cocktail glass that’s been chilled
- Garnish with onions on a skewer and serve
For a name like that, this cocktail sure is adorable! The strawberries bring the right amount of sweetness to the dryness of the vermouth although it’s pretty deceptive looking for the amount of alcohol it packs in. This is a perfect refreshing summer drink.
What you’ll need:
- 4 strawberries (one as garnish)
- 44 ml gin
- 22 ml dry vermouth
- 22 ml sweet vermouth
- Splash of water
Instructions:
- Drop 3 strawberries into the shaker and muddle with a splash of water at the bottom
- Fill half the shaker with ice
- Pour in all ingredients except the strawberry for garnish and shake well
- Strain into chilled glass
- Garnish with strawberry and serve