Parisian

This drink could be all kinds of bad if you use poor quality ingredients. But that option is becoming less likely as bars up their selections of gin, vermouth and liqueurs. G.E. Massenez creme de cassis is the real deal. French cremes, while sweet, are leaps and bounds better than the junk peddled in the U.S.

Dolin dry vermouth is also an amazing dry vermouth (some of the best that France has to offer.) In fact, the French are so known for their production of dry vermouth that old recipes specifically called for French vermouth when they wanted to indicate dry vermouth.

When mixed with Hendrick's gin, you have a top shelf cocktail that will win over the staunchest Martini drinkers. And it is this kind of quality that exemplifies a cocktail bearing the name Parisian, with two French spirits boosting a quality gin.

• 2 oz. gin (Hendrick's used)
• 1 oz. dry vermouth (Dolin) used. 
• 1/2 oz. creme de cassis (G. E. Massenez used)

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