White Whiskey Saketini

Is it a Martini if you make it with white whiskey instead of gin or vodka? Furthermore, does a Martini require dry vermouth? (I tend to think it does.) The Saketini, especially this one, is not a Martini at all, but it is a savory treat: especially with a pepper drop garnish like shown above.

MurLarkey Justice White Whiskey is an unaged corn whiskey that really features the distiller's main product. Unadulterated it is still bold and bracing, even when chilled. It takes a significant amount of sake to break through (which is why I can't call this a Martini. The spirit just isn't neutral at all.) I also added a little of the juice from the pepper drop jar for vinegar tang.

• 2 oz. White Corn Whiskey (MurLarkey Justice used)
• 1 oz. sake 
• pepper drop garnish
• drizzle of pepper drop juice

Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the pepper drops.

Krautini (Combo)

I was struck by inspiration when I was drinking a Dirty Martini after work. The olive brine in a cocktail is pleasing and appetizing and really goes well with salty food like nuts and pretzels. Why then, with the exception of the Gibson, are there so few savory Martinis?

The idea of pickled cabbage suggested itself as I fixed a bratwurst for dinner. Why not make a Martini with a little of the cabbage juice in it. I tried it two ways, a gin and a vodka drink, and with two kinds of sour kraut, the white and the red cabbage. The one constant was the Rivata dry vermouth with its heavy herbal notes and slight cabbage scent.

Both drinks worked out really well. the white cabbage juice with MurLarkey Divine Clarity vodka was a great combo. Divine Clarity already has a slight bitter dullness (I detect, but no one else seems to think so) that lends itself well to olive and wine cocktails. The white cabbage made this Dirty Martini variation sour with vinegar zip that was every bit as interesting as a standard Dirty Martini.

The red cabbage juice added to MurLarkey ImaGination gin was sweeter but earthy, a bitterness well suited to rosemary and basil notes you find in the gin. Here is the recipe with proportions that work as well for one as another.

•  3 oz. gin or vodka (MurLarkey ImaGination gin or Divine Clarity vodka)
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth (Rivata Italian used)
• 1 tsp. sour kraut juice (red or white)

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 

Journalist

Newspaper writers have to grab a drink from time to time. This is a recommendation, perhaps? I can see a reporter bellying up and ordering this cocktail with its very tropical twists on a gin Martini. Lime juice, triple sec, bitters, all in small enough proportions to keep the Martini-ness intact, really change the drinking experience.

I felt that a lime wedge garnish was appropriate, but it is completely optional. Of course a good reporter must always remain vigilant. Therefore, Vigilant gin was a perfect pairing for this cocktail.

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 tsp. dry vermouth
• 1 tsp. sweet vermouth
• 1 tsp. triple sec
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 

Buckeye Martini

Of course this Martini variation is just trying to point out the interesting look of a cocktail made with a black olive as a garnish. It has nothing to do with The Ohio State Buckeyes. That didn't stop me from breaking out my OSU paraphernalia for this photo.

I used Magnus & Co. Vigilant gin and Mancino vermouth, which made this gin Martini extremely spicy and interesting. The last sip involving taking down the olive was wonderfully rich and very different from a green olive's flavor.

• 3 oz. gin (Jos. A. Magnus Vigilant used)
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth (Mancino used) 
• black olive

Stir liquid ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with black olive. 

Kup's Indespensable Cocktail

In what is increasingly likely to become a Martini Week, we have another variation in which a bartender, supposedly named Kup, came up with a unique Martini variation. This one has a huge vermouth component and requires a little more heft from its gin. Vigilant gin should do the trick, with one of the most robust and dry spiced gins profiles out there. This turns out to be a very rich and rewarding Martini.

• 2 oz. gin (Vigilant used)
• 3/4 oz. dry vermouth (Mancino used)
• 3/4 oz. sweet vermouth (Dolin used)
• orange twist

Stir all ingredients except orange twist in a mixing glass full of ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.