A martini is made with gin. Period. Not vodka. There's another name for that. Choose a good brand of gin to use in your martini. Badly made gin will taste horrible while good gin will be aromatic and distinctive. Martini's were made famous on good gin. The Vodka Martini or vodkatini came much later and in purist circles is not considered remotely related to a martini. That's how coveted good gin was in those days. See our review of vodka brands to know which type of vodka you prefer in your vodka martini.
Glance at the following gin brands and types. Each is crafted with distinctive aromas, spices and fruit. What is your favorite Gin Brand?
Blue Gin
We've heard that the model was not part of the maceration process ;-)
Blue Gin goes through two distillation processes: the raw material is first distilled in small copper pots (pot-still method). The pot-still method is still considered one of hte gentlest distillation methods because there is no overheating. The wheat base, called Mulan, is grown in Austrian fields. The second distillation process, called rectification, results in a distillate of 84% by alcohol.
During maceration (softening and separating through soaking), the aromas are carefully extracted and authentically conserved in the grain alcohol. After a few days, the grain alcohol and botanicals are pot-still distilled again to separate the solid botanicals from the alcohol.
Twenty-seven botanicals are used to create what Blue Gin calls a "fresh, elegant juniper aroma with fragrant lemony and spicy facets". Some of the spices used in the making of Blue Gin are: lemon rind, angelica root, cilantro seeds, turmeric, and licorice. They are imported from such countries as Egypt, China, Spain, Indonesia, Macedonia, The Netherlands, Romania, Turkey, the United States and Vietnam.
Bombay Sapphire Gin
Bombay Sapphire Gin is crisp and light with a hint of lemon. Its spice blend is well balanced.
Tanqueray Gin
Tanqueray Gin lingers on your tongue, is spicy, fresh and evokes an herbal flavor. It is said to be a complex gin.
Gordon’s Gin
Gordon’s Gin is straightforward and honest. You will taste juniper berry immediately followed by coriander and ending with citrus. Gordon’s is not priced expensively..
Beefeater Gin
Beefeater Gin is also straightforward. You again will taste juniper berry immediately along with spices and fruit followed by lavender. Beefeater is said to not be complex or expensive.
O-N Gin
Organic Nation Gin, distilled in small batches in Ashland Oregon, contains 12 different botanicals (from plants or herbs), juniper berry, black pepper, coriander, angelica, and basil. Organic Nation Gin is only one of four organic gins produced in the world and it is the first organic gin produced and distilled on the West Coast of the United States. O-N Gin surprises the palette with a slight hint of citrus combined with a complex nose. Diane Paulson, Owner of Cascade Peak Spirits and distiller of Organic Nation Gin, says that mixologists are touting her gin as "a remarkable gin that stands outs and stands up to create unparalleled cocktails and a delectable Martini!"
List of Gin Brands
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.
Recommended Glassware
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