"My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle."
— Henny Youngman
Henny Youngman, March 16, 1906 – February 24, 1998, was an American comedian (and violinist) born in Liverpool, UK. He was best known for his rapid-fire one-liners, the most famous of which was "Take my wife... please!".
"The trouble with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass."
— Martin Mull
Martin Mull, August 18, 1943 – thankfully still living and laughing, is a humorist and American actor who has starred in many comedic and dramatic roles beginning with Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1976 and Fernwood Tonight in 1977. He has also appeared in such films and TV programs as Mr. Mom, Growing Pains, Clue, Mrs. Doubtfire, Roseanne, and Arrested Development.
"Why don't you get out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?"
— Robert Benchley
Robert Benchley, September 15, 1889 – November 21, 1945, was an American humorist and film actor. He wrote for the Harvard Lampoon, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. He was a member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of New York City writers, actors and humorists that included such luminaries as Franklin Pierce Adams, Heywood Broun, Marc Connelly, George S. Kaufman, Dorothy Parker, Harold Ross, Robert E. Sherwood, John Peter Toohey, Alexander Woollcott, Tallulah Bankhead, Harpo Marx, Donald Ogden Stewart, Frank Sullivan, and Peggy Wood.
"New York is the greatest city in the world for lunch. That's the gregarious time. And when that first martini hits the liver like a silver bullet, there is a sigh of contentment that can be heard in Dubuque."
— William Emerson, Jr.
William (Bill) Emerson, Jr., February 28, 1923 – August 25, 2009, was an American journalist. He was editor-in-chief of The Saturday Evening Post, and earlier in his career, was the first Newsweek bureau chief assigned to cover the southern United States and consequently, the civil rights era.
"I am prepared to believe that a dry martini
slightly impairs the palate, but think what
it does for the soul. "
— Alec Waugh
Alec Waugh, 1898-1981, a British novelist, author of best-sellers Island in the Sun (1957, inspired Island Records)) and A Fatal Gift (1973). Rumored to have invented the cocktail party serving rum swizzles instead of tea in 1920's London.
"Then Priss arrived, dragging a volume of
colorlessness in with him, a drabness that
was unaffected by the noise and the
absolute splendor (no other word would
describe it - or else it was the two
martinis glowing inside me) that filled
the room"
— Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov, 1920-1992, a Russian born American science-fiction writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. One of the most prolific writers of all time and a member of Mensa.
""If it wasn't for the olives in his martinis, he'd starve to death!" "
— Milton Berle
Milton Berle (1908-2002) was born Milton Berlinger in Manhattan. One of the first stars of network television in the 50's as host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater. He was subsequently known for his comedy and comic sketches as uncle Miltie and Mr. Television.
Lefty O'Doul's Pineapple Martini Recipe
JC writes in to the Muse:
"a few weeks ago my wife and I were in San Francisco and stopped in Lefty O'Douls for drinks... she had a SKYY infused pineapple martini that she loved... I've looked all over for a recipe and can't find one...do you know of any?"
Well, JC, we were wondering how Lefty O'Doul's made their Pineapple Martini also so we called them. We spoke with Chuck Davis, the Manager/Bartender. He was the bartender who made your pineapple martini.
Manmohan Prashar's Real Martini Recipe
Manmohan Prashar emailed us this simple, pure and tasty martini recipe:
Step 1: start with vermouth; measure 1 part, drop a few drops in a chilled cocktail glass; rotate the glass so that vermouth is spread on the glass walls. Pour rest of the vermouth left in the measure glass in cocktail shaker.
Step 2: Add 2 parts vodka to the cocktail shaker.
Step 3: Add 3 part gin to the cocktail shaker.
Shake well and serve
Cheers!!
Manmohan Prashar
Meadow Lark Vodka Martini
Mike Sherwood of Santa Rosa Spirits writes The Muse that he's been experimenting with two infusions from Sub Rosa Spirits. Nothing radical and, that he says, is the point. He likes mixing Elderflower Liqueur with Tarragon Vodka. The Saffron and Cointreau seemed destined as partners, "very lush and warming", he says. Mike adds a hint of fine freshly ground black pepper into a plain Tarragon martini. Grinding in white pepper also works well. The martini is meant to be understated which brings out the delicate flavor of the tarragon.
Combine all ingredients into a martini glass over cold ice - check out Swank Martini Glasses for a nice selection of classic, cool and artsy martini glasses - and shake. The elderflowers bring imagery of a fresh summer meadow at sunrise. The Meadow Lark is Oregon's state bird.
The Marseille Airport Martini
The Marseille Airport Martini may require 1-2 ounces of ginger ale or a juice of your liking. The weekend bartender at Serattos make this one with a little soda water mixed in. Soda cut the sweetness of the orange liqueur but need to play with this one a little more. The Marseille Airport Martini has a pale yellow orange cast to if from the Saffron vodka and Cointreau. The aroma is warm and familiar yet not completely identifiable due to the toasted cumin wafting over the orange liqueur and fresh lime. Think Golden Cosmopolitan minus the juice.
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a long twist of lime.
Do you know who Luis Alvarenga is?
Luis Alvarenga is the Senior Bartender at The Oak Room inside the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. Luis has been concocting fabulous drinks and world-class martinis for 21 years. He is a most gracious man and truly loves what he does. Luis sat down with us and described a favorite drink of many of our readers: The Sugar Plum Fairy Martini. We thought we'd share it with you.
Sugar Plum Fairy Martini
Do you know what maceration is?
Maceration is the process of separating, softening or even disintegrating through soaking. When used in regard to gin distilling, the maceration process separates solids, like botanicals and spice roots/seeds, from the liquid. Blue Gin, for example, puts its gin through the maceration process thus separating its botanicals from the distilled alcohol.
Sneak Peak of Blue Gin Model
Interestingly, its print advertising piece shows a topless girl wearing jeans soaking in water holding a bottle of Blue Gin by her side. We wonder if the maceration process was responsible!
Questions from Our Readers
Jeff writes in: Is there a Vodka made from Potatoes that you might recommend? Thanks.
Hi Jeff: Yes, the following vodkas are distilled using potatoes:
Notice they're all from Poland? From what I've heard, Chopin is preferred but it's also marketed the most. See if you can buy a small bottle of each to compare.
You can find the complete list on at Vodka Brands and Types.
Check out our Updated List of Gin Brands and Types
A Martini Lover's Opinion of Gin and Vodka
Paducah writes in:209 Gin
Janet writes in:What does a "part" mean?
Robin writes in:
In 22 years of bartending, I’ve never heard the measurement for a martini described as a “part”. Please explain what a Part is when the recipie calls for 5 parts of vodka.
Thank you
Robin J.
Hi Robin;
A part is basically a portion or ratio. It’s typically an ounce (or shot) portion but it doesn’t have to which is why they call it a part.
A better way to explain it is like this: If a recipe calls for 5 parts vodka, 1 part vermouth and 2 parts soda (yuck!) then you have 8 parts total that make up the solution in the poured glass. The parts must be equal in size – if a part is one gallon (which won’t happen) then each vodka part, vermouth part and soda part must be one gallon each. Equal amounts = a part.
If each part is one ounce (typical), then all of your parts of vodka, vermouth and soda must be one ounce.
Thanks for emailing us.
Pink Martini
A Martini must be enjoyed with good music, a cigar perhaps, and, of course, good conversation amongst friends.
In search of that nostalgic, take-me-back-to-the-old-days-when-a-martini-was-a-martini and company was a group of friends rather than something built to bring public, we have stumbled on a music group called Pink Martini. Listen to the romantic grainy radio sound of Sympathique and find yourself longing for the innocence and civility of the past not to mention dinner parties and dancing.
| Listen to Sympathique Sample |
Sympathique was nominated by France's Victoires de la Musique Awards for Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
Pink Martini is as real as its Portland, Oregon roots, founded in 1994 to play progressive political fundraisers, i.e., civil rights, environmental issues, affordable housing and public broadcasting. The band members hail from different cultural backgrounds and have studied varied languages, all inherent in their music. As in Sympathique, you feel as if you’re ensconced in a 1930’s French music hall or better yet, a Hemingway-type artists bar on St. Germaine in Paris.
Pink Martini debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998 and has since played with symphony orchestras such as The Boston Pops, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic. They've also played renowned venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Kennedy Center and the William Morris Agency’s 100th birthday celebration.
James Bonds' Medium Dry Martini
The James Bond Medium Dry Martini, also referred to as the Vesper Martini, was made with (gasp!) a healthy portion of vodka mixed with 3 parts gin. Of course, it was still "shaken, not stirred".
The Many Household and Medical Uses of Vodka
Eco-Friendly Vodkas
What is an Eco-Friendly Vodka? If you're Purus or VeeV, it is vodka that is made of 100% organic ingredients. If you're 360 Vodka, it is in the packaging.
McCormick Distilling, the oldest (continuous) distillery in the United States, has just released 360 Vodka to compete in the ultra luxury vodka niche. 360 Vodka is made from regular non-organic grain made in the United States. Other Vodka producers such as Purus and VeeV, on the other hand, use 100% organic ingredients in its vodkas. So, is 360 Vodka the world's first eco-friendly vodka? Hardly, but let's expore their claim further.
How to Make a Martini Dry
When the martini was the drink of choice in our culture yers ago, the only way to make a martini was with gin and dry vermouth.
The gin was iced very cold but not served with ice. Some, like Churchill, preferred their martinis naked, that is, without dry vermouth. A dry martini is a martini with
less dry vermouth. That's right - more dry vermouth makes your martiniless dry.
All ratios below are gin : vermouth.
How to Make Beer Cold Quickly
Did you ever wonder if it was possible to make beer cold quickly instead of trying to jam as many beers as possible into the freezer and waiting for an hour?
Well, it seems all you need to make beer cold in about 3 minutes is a bit of room in your freezer - which won't be a problem because the stuff that's frozen won't thaw in 3 minutes - and alot of salt.
The way to make beer cold quickly - in 3 minutes - is to load a pot with as many beers as you can and pour in enough ice to cover the beer. Then, fill the pot with tap water and add about 2 cups of salt. Stir to dissolve the salt. Then place the bucket full of beers in the freezer for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, your beers will be ice cold.
This trick also applies to anything else in a bottle, container, or can such as soda, wine or a bottle of Vodka or Gin.
So, how does your beer get cold in 3 minutes? For one, it seems that salt water absorbs heat and two, keeping the pot in the freezer allows the ice cubes to keep transferring cold to the beers.
Recommended Glassware
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