After my previous gin review, I found it interesting that I had yet to give my thoughts on gin's traditional companion, vermouth. Mainly used as a mixing agent or apéritif, vermouth is a fortified wine flavored with various dry herbs and spices. This week, I went the cheap route and picked up a bottle of Gallo Extra Dry Vermouth to sample and toy around with.
Produced by Gallo Vineyards in Modesto, California, this vermouth has at least one good thing going for it right off the bat – California grapes are typically pretty darn good. I attempted to get
Archive for Martinis
Between the Sheets
by Dennis Mayer on July 15th, 2011 | Cocktails, Martinis, Mixed Drinks
Cocktails fall into two main categories.
The first, more refined category includes any drink with one primary spirit and secondary ingredients to complement it. Examples range from the Manhattan (vermouth and bitters to complement your bourbon) to the margarita (curacao and lime juice to punch up tequila) to the Godfather (a splash of amaretto to sweeten up a Scotch on the rocks) and countless others. Simple, classic cocktails, designed by bartenders who had limited ingredients and hoped to give their customers the best tastes possible (or at least mask the flavor of whatever rotgut booze was available in more austere times.)
The
The first, more refined category includes any drink with one primary spirit and secondary ingredients to complement it. Examples range from the Manhattan (vermouth and bitters to complement your bourbon) to the margarita (curacao and lime juice to punch up tequila) to the Godfather (a splash of amaretto to sweeten up a Scotch on the rocks) and countless others. Simple, classic cocktails, designed by bartenders who had limited ingredients and hoped to give their customers the best tastes possible (or at least mask the flavor of whatever rotgut booze was available in more austere times.)
The
Satan’s Whiskers
by Dennis Mayer on June 28th, 2011 | Cocktails, Martinis
Vermouth has lost a lot of its charm in the last 50 years or so of popular drinking. Today, it's used almost exclusively in the making of martinis and manhattans - with a short pour for the manhattan, and just a couple of dashes for the martini. In fact, so-called "sophisticated" drinkers will order their martinis "dry" (for just one dash), "extra dry" (for even less), or "bone-dry" (for no vermouth at all.)
This all confuses me, since a martini is supposed to be a cocktail, of which vermouth is a crucial (if not secondary) ingredient. I would think a sophisticated
This all confuses me, since a martini is supposed to be a cocktail, of which vermouth is a crucial (if not secondary) ingredient. I would think a sophisticated
The Blushing Bride
by Michele on April 13th, 2011 | Cocktails, Martinis
In case you haven't heard, there is a royal wedding later this month. From the amount of media attention the pending nuptials of Price William and Kate Middleton have received, it seems like there will be a large audience around the world. When planning a viewing event, it is important to include delicious food and drinks in the menu. While nothing says wedding quite like a flute of Champagne, it can be fun to make cocktails for the event.
To assist with your planning, we have a recipe created by Tanqueray Global Brand Ambassador Angus Winchester. Using the bridal theme of
To assist with your planning, we have a recipe created by Tanqueray Global Brand Ambassador Angus Winchester. Using the bridal theme of
New Year’s Eve Cocktail
by MPK on December 13th, 2010 | Cocktails, Martinis, Mixed Drinks, Sparkling
How will you spend New Year's Eve this year? If you're like many adults, you may be throwing or attending a house party. While you most likely have plans to open a bottle of bubbly at the strike of midnight, what will you be drinking before that time?
To help with drink planning, we have selected our ten favorite holiday cocktails. Help us choose the best from this elite group, and on Wednesday, December 22nd we'll share the full recipe, which will give you more than a week to gather all of the necessary ingredients. Place your vote, and return
To help with drink planning, we have selected our ten favorite holiday cocktails. Help us choose the best from this elite group, and on Wednesday, December 22nd we'll share the full recipe, which will give you more than a week to gather all of the necessary ingredients. Place your vote, and return
