Lately I’ve been on a Vodka Martini kick. There’s some really nice vodkas made here in Texas: Tito’s, Dripping Springs and DeLos. These vodkas are so smooth and free of impurities that hangovers are virtually a thing of the past.
After much experimentation my conclusion is: I like mine wet with the full 3/4oz vermouth and 2-3oz vodka. Lately discovering stirred not shaken is the way to go. Olives and hot pickles make a nice garnish.
One of the things I like about Martinis’ is the vinous character of the vermouth. Reminds me of Belgian beer of all things! ;D
I don’t use the Tito’s for Martinis. I keep a bottle of Bombay Saphire in the freezer for that. I like mine with just a half cap of vermouth and almond-stuffed olives.
I actually don’t care for Martinis. I tried once and went through most of a bottle of gin and vermouth and a jar of olives. Tried it as many ways as I could figure (didn’t try with Vodka because I don’t care for Vodka either.) I never did aquire a taste for Martini but I did discover I love olives. ;D
Sorry euge, I didn’t mean to start a feeding frenzy!
I’ve actually moved away from Sapphire in martinis recently. It’s still my favorite in a G&T, but I like more straightforward gins, especially when playing around with different olives. Beefeater is what I’m drinking right now. Saving some money doesn’t hurt either.
Tuna stuffed olives sound awesome; I’ll have to try to get some.
If I remember New Amsterdam gin properly, and I may not, but it was light enough on the juniper that it might as well have been a vodka! I could be misremembering that.
I’m a traditionalist at heart so I would stand with the gin partisans, leaving an exception for vodka martinis, but they have always struck me as a bit of a waste of gin…just to my taste. I like my gin with lime, tonic, or bitters, or some combination thereof. And I like my vermouth sweet and closely chaperoned with a good bourbon or rye whiskey!
Got some more Tito’s though I think Dripping Springs is the way to go.
I had to buy a huge 1.75L bottle of Sapphire but next to it was a much cheaper (and much smaller) bottle of New Amsterdam. Almost bought it.
Oh! It’s a little disconcerting when the botanicals nearly hide the Vermouth.
The Sapphire is good. Heady Botanicals and goes well with the olives I got at local Central Market: Habanero and Blue cheese stuffed and some spiced ones. The first one- Blue cheese after sitting in the gin was probably the best stuffed-olive I’ve ever had sober.
I concur gin is better with tonic & limes. It needs bitter/sour to balance it out. Same as an olive…
