What's the big deal with Martinis?

[VoteDemocratic2004]

I can't walk a block without seeing a Martini sign in the window of a bar or restaurant in my area.

I use to bartend and I hated the sight of Martinis because I hate olives and putting onions in a drink made me sick at the smell alone.

I am a Mai Tai or Pina Colada type of person and I can't understand what's the big deal with Martini's.

They have Chocolate, Peach Pie, Lemon Drop, Watermelon, Apple and anything under the sun that you can think of.

I want to order one out of curiosity and say "Shaken not stirred" but I don't know which one to order because they all sound so good these days. They are charging half price for them on Sunday's and I wanted to know if they are worth $5.00 which is half price.

I am going to visit my Dad in the hospital and I thought that I would stop on the way back and have a couple of Martinis "Shaken not Stirred".

Have you tried one of the new flavors and what did it taste like?

[zulchzulu]

1. Chicks dig a dude with a Cosmo

I'm kidding...

[VoteDemocratic2004]

4. Are they good?

What's a Cosmo?

[zulchzulu]

19. A Cosmo...

Cosmopolitan

1/2 oz Cointreau
1 oz Vodka
Juice of 1/2 Limes
1 splash Cranberry Juice

Pour all ingredients in mixing glass half filled with ice, shake and strain into chilled martini glass.

Funny thing is the drink is pink, hence not really for the Sports Bar macho crowd.

[priller]

2. I had a really interesting one a few weeks ago

It was a frozen grape martini. The vodka used in the drink was made frozen grapes, which gave it a very slight white grape juice kind of flavor. And then they put a few frozen grapes in the drink, instead of olives. It was different and quite good.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

8. That sounds good

Did they use Champagne Grapes as a garnish?

[Tosca]

3. Puke.

/I am a Mai Tai or Pina Colada type of person

[VoteDemocratic2004]

5. I don't drink

It's either a frozen Pina Colada, frozen Zombie or a Miller Lite with a shot of lime juice in it.

[Tosca]

12. A REAL martini

is either vodka or gin with vermouth and olives.

That is all.

These trendy "martinis" are not real martinis.

[yvr girl]

6. I've never had an original

But I love them in general. They have a high alcohol content, perhaps that is the appeal.

Warning though, some of them are sweet enough to make your teeth fall out. I would check prior to ordering.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

11. Two would probably be too many then right?

My Dad is having surgery tomorrow and he is an old guy so I will need a couple of drinks afterwords.

I think that I will order two of the passion fruit ones.

[yvr girl]

17. Depends on your tolerance

If you're driving, check out how many ounces of alcohol are in each drink. Some of them are made with flavoured liquor and some have juice added. I like Midori with Apple flavoured vodka and regular vodka.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

23. I am walking

The hospital is about 10 blocks from me and I don't own a car.

Midori and apple sounds like a good flavor.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

21. Old saying:

"Martinis are like women: One is not enough and three's too many". ;-)

[VoteDemocratic2004]

27. Can they be like men?

I like that saying and I will remember that.

[slackmaster]

7. Anything sweet in a martini makes it not a martini IMO

The Lemon Drop is a cocktail in its own right.

If it's garnished with one or more onions it's a Gibson.

Chocolate? I've heard of that but the idea of mixing gin with chocolate seems kind of daffy. If you want a chocolate drink try a Brandy Alexander or a Mudslide.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

9. Vodka & Chocolate

I also think that I would vomit.

I have been reading the menus as I walk along the street and the Lemon Drop has sugar around the rim and it's sounds very sweet.

[slackmaster]

13. Sugar on the rim is optional - Lemon Drops taste great

They'll sneak up on you.

[Cobalt Violet]

10. They cost more because...

They use better a better grade of Vodka or Gin than other drinks.
Also they use alot more of those liquors.
A regular mixed drink with vodka is made with a shot of vodka (usually generic) 1 oz.

A regular martini is made with a 2.5 ounces of vodka and usually a call vodka or top shelf ( absolut, stoli, skyy, Grey Goose ,Ketel One)

[Spider Jerusalem]

14. Skip the flavours...

and get a classic martini with Bombay Sapphire and a twist of lemon peel (olives are nasty, and pearl onions are for shish kebab, not drink garnish). Much better than the olive version.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

16. What's Bombay Sapphire?

I use to be a bartender 18 years ago and some of the brands don't sound familiar.

I am thinking about buying one on the way to the hospital and getting me another one on the walk back from the hospital.

I have to put the old guy into a senior care facility and it's going to be a hard looking at him.

[Spider Jerusalem]

24. Bombay Sapphire is a premium gin...

much more complex flavour than most, and not so strong on the juniper (a plus, in my opinion...I find most gins too "piney"). They use 10 botanicals instead of the standard 4 or 5. I recommend it highly. Makes Tanqueray taste like rotgut in comparison.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

15. Martini Recipe that never fails:

1.5 ounces of Good gin(Sapphire, Bombay). More if you were like me(I am now in remission).

White Vermouth cap with which to do the benediction(Oh, a little bit, really. Just a tad...)

Ouzo.

Shotglass.

Put gin in mixing vessel with that has been prechilled with ice. Real afficianados put their gin in the fridge or freezer beforehand.

Stir a few times.

Add Vermouth.

Stir.

Pour into glass.

Put 1/4 inch of Ouzo into shot glass. Put bar pipette or bar straw into ouzo. Seal end with finger, trapping Ouzo in straw.

Drop Ouzo into glass. Stir a little.

Serve with favorite foodstuffs as garnish.

Oh, and try a Vodka Martini with anchovy-stuffed olives and a twist of peppermill cracked fresh black pepper. Mmmmmmmmm.

Yes, I remember it well.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

20. Can you use something besides anchovy's?

I got sick off of ouzo one time but your recipe sounds pretty good.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

22. Anchovy Olives in the Vodka Martini!

Not gin! :puke:

The ouzo is not really noticible. It forms a kind of "flavor bridge" between the aromatics of the gin and the herbs of the Vermouth. It works. I used to have a Martini Drinker Fan Club from them. ;-)

[papau]

30. Not for those over 40, deadly for those over 60! :-)

but a great memory!

:party:

:-)

[VoteDemocratic2004]

31. What if you just turned 40?

?

[papau]

33. Based on my own actions - not my advice - go for it and enjoy!

and may you be as lucky as I was to always have a sober wife - or friend - or cab - that could get you home - and a wife that just shook her head at what an ass the hubby was the night before!

Indeed my wife stopped drinking so as to drive - but I am not sure that (getting her to stop drinking) also counts as a good deed on my page on St Pete's ledger.

sigh....

alls well that ends well - sometimes -

:party:

:-)

[VoteDemocratic2004]

35. I better just have one

Our sidewalks are in bad shape and I might fall down knowing my luck.

I will stop on the way back from the hospital.

Thanks!

[shanti]

18. i agree!

the smell of gin makes me want to :puke:

[salvorhardin]

25. Martinis are

a waste of perfectly good vodka -- whether they're made with or without.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

26. They are so pretty

I look into the windows as I pass the clubs and restaurants and they are all pastel colors and so pretty.

You see people drinking them in the outdoor Cafe's and I want to stop and ask someone hows that drink but I would never interrupt someone.

[Spider Jerusalem]

28. They aren't...

Martinis are made with GIN. Mixing vodka and vermouth and calling it a "martini" is like mixing bourbon, tomato juice and Worcester sauce and calling it a "Bloody Mary".

[salvorhardin]

36. Thus

it is still a waste of good vodka.

[trof]

29. Y'all are so full of merde your eyes are brown.

A "Martini" is GEE-EYE-IN. GIN. PERIOD.
OK, with a hint of Vermouth, unless you like them "very dry".
Like I do.
And an olive.
I'm a little flexible about what kind of garnish is acceptable.
I've enjoyed a Martini (always capitalized, it's a guy's name) with a regulah pimento stuffed olives, anchovie stuffed olives, jalapeno stuffed olives, almond stuffed olives, garlic stuffed olives. I enjoyed each and every one. The garnish depended on my particular mood at the time.

It's VERY COLD gin.
You may lower the temperature of the gin in two (2) ways:
1. Mix with ice. Shake or stir, your pleasure.
2. Keep a bottle of gin in the freezer.

#2 is my preferred method. The ice dilutes an otherwise perfect drink.
Kept in the freezer, gin assumes the viscosity of Karo syrup. It will freeze an olive and make it crunchy. A pleasant sensation.

There. All else is NOT a Martini.
Chocolate Martinis?
Blech.
:puke:
Surely you jest.

[soothsayer]

32. hear hear! n/t

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

34. Uhoh...

The Martini Fundamentalists are here! Run, everyone! Run! :)

[trof]

39. Nay, PURIST, not fundie.

This is NOT from the bible.
Just from personal omnipotence.
Or something.
I forget.

[Missy Vixen]

40. Cosmopolitan Fan Club, checking in

>The Martini Fundamentalists are here! Run, everyone! Run! :)<

:::pulls martini shaker and various liquors and liqueur off the pantry shelf, gets out glasses, starts cutting limes:::

I have one. ONE. If I had more, I'd be checking into Betty Ford. I'm also picky about who's making my Cosmo. There are people who have never, ever learned how to make one. I've never had the gin and vermouth Martini because I don't care for gin. Then again, if Tandalayo was still bartending, I'd have to belly up and try one of those. Yours sound delicious!

Cosmos coming up! :toast:

Julie

[WillyBrandt]

38. Bah! Vodka Martinis are better than Gin ones...

[Tosca]

37. From the immortal Dorothy Parker...

I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most,
Three I'm under the table,
Four I'm under my host.