Make staying in taste like going out with gin martinis

BY: JOSHUA GANDEE
Beverage Director, Watershed Kitchen & Bar

We talk a lot about how refreshing Four Peel Gin is in these blogs. And for good reason; if you have a dog that’s a good boy it is important many times daily to reaffirm that by asking, “who’s a good boy?” Our Four Peel Gin IS refreshing, so it works really well in shaken drinks with citrus of all kinds, and it loves effervescence.

Today, we want to highlight Four Peel Gin’s appeal in classic, stirred drinks. Around Watershed, we love a good Martini. And we love making them at home, since it doesn’t take much to make a bar-quality Martini with a few simple ingredients. If you have a bottle of Four Peel or Guild Gin, you’re already off to a good start.

Somewhere along the long history of the Martini, the name became synonymous with “cocktail.” And if you served it in the iconic ‘V’ shaped glass, then you could slap on the moniker on just about anything; next thing you know you’ve had three things called a Lemon Drop (which are delicious btw). Dig into cocktailian history and lore and you’ll find that the martini is a spin-off from the Martinez, which in turn is a take on the Manhattan. What we learn from that is that is a magical meeting of spirit and vermouth. Don’t worry, we’ll include a recipe at the bottom for the Martini and the Martinez, (and the lemon drop too, why not?) so you can drink your way through the family lineage.

Many Martini recipes are a simple 2:1 mix of gin to vermouth, with a couple of dashes of bitters added in. Now, your choice of vermouth and bitters, along with some simple tricks, can help your at-home martinis taste like the one at your favorite cocktail bar.

Your choice of gin is going to set the mark for which direction your Martini will go. For instance, in a classic Martini, Four Peel Gin is our recommendation because it is led by flavors of lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit, but with a backbone of juniper. Those flavors will blend with the vermouth to create lovely floral, slightly sweet notes. For a Martinez, I’d recommend our Bourbon Barrel Four Peel Gin, to stand up against the added sweetness of sweet vermouth. For a 50/50 Martini, which simply means equal parts gin to vermouth, try Guild Gin to allow flavors of chamomile mingle with vermouth and bitters, without being overpowering.

Now, for vermouth. A lot of work has been put into the production of vermouth (as with tonic) to be more of a reflection of the gin you choose than something your spirit will have to work against. This doesn’t mean you need to reach right for the top shelf stuff -- there are plenty of affordable, high-quality options. Vermouth is a fortified wine meaning it will last longer than wine, but still has a shelf life. My recommendation is to buy a couple of different types of each vermouth, some from France, some from Italy, and taste through to see what you like about each. As far as storage goes, it’s best to keep it from the light and when possible make a space for it in the refrigerator.

As with many of our recipes, Four Peel Gin can easily gravitate to flavors of orange, so adding a couple of dashes of orange bitters to your Martini is a great way to let the orange peel found in the gin to unfold. Don’t stop there, though. If you have a preferred type of bitters, and with an inordinate amount of them these days I don’t see why you wouldn’t, feel free to experiment with them to find your right mix. Typically two to four dashes will do, as they work to bind the flavors of vermouth and gin together or to add a delicate top note (what you smell when you approach the glass) to your Martini.

Many claim to have the perfect Martini recipe, but when you are doing the work yourself, it is important to find what works best for you.

Say you’ve found your ideal gin, you’ve trekked Europe and found which vermouth you enjoy best, your medicine cabinet is now exclusively stocked with rare bitters, and you find your recipe could still use something more. Enter sugar and salt. Yes, the same sugar and salt you already have in your pantry. Creating a saline solution with kosher salt, or simple syrup with granulated sugar and water is a great way to add a little sweetness and savory elements to your cocktail (and these apply to the refreshing ones too.)

When cooking vegetables you notice they start to become aromatic, then you add a pinch of salt and it’s like, “Dang! NOW we’re cooking.” You’ll get that same feeling when you add a pinch of salt to your Martini. You’ll note citrus notes coming to the top, taming of any overly bitter flavors. If you find your Martini to be drinking a little sharp, meaning the alcohol is a touch too present for you, simply make a syrup by adding equal parts sugar and water and stir until dissolved and adding a small amount to your drink. Start with a couple of drops, up to a quarter ounce. It will soften the alcohol and add a touch of velvety sweetness when you take your first sip.

When you mix these tips together, you’ll be shocked by how refined your at-home Martini tastes. There’s one more reason the Martini you order out is so magical: glassware. Don’t worry, I’m not here to tell you that you have to run out and get something ornate or expensive. In fact, a Martini shaken in an old jelly jar would taste just as good. Just choose whichever glass you would like to consume your Martini from and place it in the freezer 15 minutes before you mix up your recipe. A chilled glass allows the cocktail to stay cool longer and preserves some of the lovely aromatics you get from the top. If you are looking for something intriguing or ornate, check out your local antique shops for your new favorite Martini glass.

And now, as promised, the recipes.

THE MARTINI

2oz Watershed Four Peel Gin

1oz Dry Vermouth

2-4 dashes Orange Bitters

1 pinch Kosher Salt (or barspoon of simple syrup if a sweeter drink is desired)

Stir all ingredients in a mixing or pint glass until well chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with olives or a twist of orange and lemon.

This recipe is a few steps beyond just chilled gin but works in harmony with the other ingredients. It’s simple yet refined and drinks of restaurant quality. Feel free to play around with your gin, vermouth, and bitters choices to truly make it your own.

THE MARTINEZ

2oz Watershed Bourbon Barrel Four Peel Gin

1oz Sweet Vermouth

2-4 dashes Aromatic Bitters

Stir all ingredients in a mixing or pint glass until well chilled. Strain into a chilled glass or over a large rock and garnish with a twist of orange.

This recipe is one step removed from the Manhattan and is a great way to try our Bourbon Barrel Four Peel if you’ve yet to give it a go. It’s the perfect crossover for bourbon drinkers looking to dip their toe into the world of gin and vice versa. Treat this the same way you would a Manhattan, and feel free to garnish with cherries alongside the orange twist.

50/50

1.5oz Watershed Guild Gin

1.5oz Blanc Vermouth

2-4 dashes Orange Bitters

1 pinch Kosher Salt (or barspoon of simple syrup if a sweeter drink is desired)

Stir all ingredients in a mixing or pint glass until well chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with olives or a twist of orange and lemon.

You could simply mix the gin and vermouth and call it a day, however, the additional elements really make this classic sing. If you are unfamiliar with blanc vermouth, it sits somewhere in the middle of dry and sweet. It is clear and looks like that of the dry variety, but is typically made from Moscato and drinks similar to sweet vermouth. Feel free to play around with your bitters on this one as many flavors pair well with chamomile.

LEMON DROP (WHY NOT?)

1.5oz Watershed Four Peel Gin

.75oz Fresh Lemon Juice

.75oz Simple Syrup

1 pinch Kosher Salt

Shake all ingredients in mixing tins or something with a sealable top until well chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a large twist of lemon. Repeat as needed until french fries sound like a good idea for dinner.

Well, there you have it. Whether you are preparing for a special night in, a zoom happy hour, or just feel like having a little treat while watching a new show, hopefully, these tips change your at-home Martini game. As always, please share your cocktail photos with us so that we may reshare and hopefully inspire someone’s next round.

Cheers!