Month: December 2015

What is a Martini?

On: By: wlmoon58

After my recent post on Eggnog Martini (Egg Nog Martini??? Really?) in which I generally described my amusement, if not disdain, of various cocktails described as “Martinis”… or more typically, ‘somthing‘tini a person very close to me asked “OK, what makes a Martini a Martini”.

To answer that I’ll ask, “What makes a chocolate chip cookie a chocolate chip cookie”?  Bear with me here and all will be clear.

There are a lot of ‘-tinis’ out there that are, or have been, popular, even trendy;  Appletini, Chocotini, Cranberrytini, Peachtini, Watermellontini, Peppermintini, Bacontini, etc.  These cocktails may indeed  be delicious, fun, and frivolous.  The common element in these cocktails is that they are served in a martini stem and usually made with vodka.

But a martini stem does not a Martini make.   Similarly a small baked bit of batter alone does not a Chocolate Chip Cookie make.

A Martini has a definite recipe.  It is composed of Gin, Vermouth, and a garnish.  Vodka is an acceptable, if not traditional, substitute for Gin.  The garnish may be an olive or twist.  And it’s traditionally served in a martini stem, but that does not make it a Martini.

A Chocolate Chip Cookie has a definite recipe with very few variations.  It is a cookie made with Chocolate Chips.   And maybe some walnuts and / or marshmallows.  It is not a biscotti, or bagel, or muffin.  It is a cookie.  And it must have Chocolate Chips.

A Martini does not have apple, chocolate, peach, peppermint, or Eggnog.  A Chocolate Chip Cookie does not have raisins, lemon peel, oatmeal, cranberries, or peanuts.

Oatmeal raisin cookies are delicious and a personal favorite.  The look very similar to Chocolate Chip cookies, but they are not a “Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip cookie”.   And an Appletini maybe fun and tasty, but it is not a Martini.

So what makes a Martini a Martini?  Gin, Vermouth (proportions to personal taste) and a garnish; olive or twist.  Preferably served chilled in a chilled martini stem.

One Year Anniversary!

On: By: wlmoon58

One Year
December 24 marks the one year anniversary of my second first post*!

I want to take a moment to thank all those who have read through my posts and especially those who have provided a comment or three.  Thank you.

Its been an amazing year really.  I’ve actually posted 146 items and received 123 comments, collected almost 70 Martini / Cocktail quotes, and 6 Martini jokes (I need more!!!).

When I started I was worried that I’d run out of things to say.  Fortunately, being of the opinionated sort, I found more about which to opine that I originally thought I would.

And the scope of blog has grown a bit.  Originally I believed I’d sporadically comment about Martinis with an occasional Bar review.  Then more bar reviews came along and became more extensive.  Somewhere I started adding Random Martini Quotes and that was a lot of fun.   Finally I started reviewing not just a bar’s Martini capabilities but also providing a grade on their Gin selection.

I also created a Twitter account (@Shkn_Nt_Strrd) to go along with this blog.  I thought they would mirror each other, so every time I post something I link it to @Shkn_Nt_Strrd.  But the twitter account has grown beyond just Martinis.  Its tag line is “Celebrating the finer things in life!”.

I’m not sure what the future holds but I will keep this blog going.  Perhaps I won’t post quite as much …. but who knows.  I’ve been having fun with this and I don’t see that changing.

Again, many thanks to all of my readers.

 

* For those of you wondering what ‘second first’ post means I’ll take a moment to give some ancient history.

My very first post was actually titled Welcome and occurred on August 21, 2013.  I had just bought the web address and loaded up WordPress and was eager to get going.  But I really had no idea what I was doing and ….. then I got lost into trying to create the ‘perfect’ web page.  During the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 I spent a lot of mental effort thinking about, researching ‘hot to’, and playing with the format of this blog.  I thought I needed the web page totally set up before I started writhing.   Ultimately I made very little progress either in writing or designing.

Somewhere near the end of 2014 I had an epiphany of sorts.  I realized that I wanted to write about martinis and I wasn’t doing that.  I still didn’t know what I was doing, but I started over and figured I’d jump in and learn about the visuals and formatting as I was writing and enjoying the Martinis…. and so my “second first” post occurred December 24, 2014 and was titled Introduction.

Egg Nog Martini??? Really?

On: By: wlmoon58

skeptic-clipart-royalty-free-eyes-clipart-illustration-1078707Really?

I’ve previously railed about candy drinks and candy martinis specifically.   (You can seem my prior opinions at The Martini, Part Two)  I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by an Eggnog Martini.  And would that be ‘Eggnogini’?  But, really????

Now there is no doubt in my mind that these sweet, spicy, tongue-coatingly thick concoctions will be absolutely scrumptiously decadently delicious.  (Not to mention wonderfully fattening!)

And I do love Eggnog!  Plain or even with a little Kahlua or Spiced Rum!  I’m sure I’d enjoy all of these Eggnog “Martini”s.   So enjoy your luscious libation.  But its NOT a Martini.  😀

Season’s Greetings to all!

Random Martini Quote of the Day

On: By: wlmoon58

“When I have one martini, I feel bigger, wiser, taller.  When I have the second, I feel superlative.  When I have more, there’s no holding me.”
William Faulkner

 

For more fun Martini quotes check out the appropriately titled “Martini Quotes” page, or click the link: Martini Quotes.

If you like these posts and want to be notified by email when they come in, please subscribe to the blog…. over on the left column.     😉

Do All Hotel Bars Suck??

On: By: wlmoon58

OK, maybe I should ask ‘do all business hotel’s bars suck?’

I’m sure there are divine resorts out there somewhere on a moonlit beach that serve awesome never-to-be-forgotten martinis.    And exquisite penthouse bars topping luxury hotels in the cosmopolitan centers of the world that serve flaming ice cold martinis in giant stein sized stems.  You know, the places with Astons parked outside, topless Victoria Secret models lounging at the pools, and where cognac or champagne ads are perpetually being filmed.

Most of us mere mortals do not stay at these places on business or even family vacations. No, most of us business travelers are not CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, or C ‘pick a title’ Os.  We are are the road warriors that do real work for our companies.

We end up at the Hampton/Courtyard/Ramada/Howard Johnson/Four Points.  And if they have a bar, they just suck.   But what do you after 8 hours of flying in two, or more, aluminum cans and you finally get to the hotel at 9:47pm??  Go out looking for a decent bar??

You grimace, sigh heavily, and go down to the local hotel bar and order a drink.   Then you pray.  Pray that the local beer slinger knows what a martini is.   Pray that the local concept of a DRY martini is not a 2 to 1 ratio!!!  In either direction.  O.o  Pray that they know the difference between a twist and a slice, or worse a wedge, of lemon.

YES, I have experienced each of these disgraces to the noble Martini.   And many more.  I’ve previously detailed some of these experiences of my Martini pet peeves which you can see in my previous post, ingeniously named Martini Making Pet Peeves.

This is why I try very hard to stay at the local big city hotels when I travel, much to my boss’s amusement.  Even if I have to drive an hour into ‘the sticks’ to get to my meeting.  In the city I have a much better chance to find a good bar that knows how to make a good Martini.

Driving an hour to work in the morning is better than an evening with a bad martini!  If I just had an Aston it would be two hours!

Bar Review: Kendall’s Brasserie & Bar, Los Angeles, CA

On: By: wlmoon58

I think I have a new favorite Martini Bar!

Not long ago I was in Downtown Los Angeles looking for a place to stop in and quench my thirst.  I wasn’t really looking for a high end restaurant, more of a neighborhood bar.   However, I did end up at a very nice restaurant, stopping at Kendall’s Brasserie & Bar and I’m very glad I did.

I am familiar with Kendall’s having eaten there several times over the years before various events a that the Los Angeles Music Center.  Kendall’s is located on the ground floor below the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

I did not eat a meal at my recent visit though I can attest that their food has, in the past, always been excellent.  I have no reason to doubt that it remains so.

But I did have a Martini, in fact a couple.  I have to admit that I did not order my usual Bombay Sapphire as my ‘control’ drink.  I was impressed with the number and selection of gins they had.  So, not wanting to drink to the point of oblivion and still wanting to try some of these gins, I skipped the Sapphire.   Instead I tried the “Perry’s Tot Navy Strength” and “Dorothy Parker” from the New York Distilling Company.

They were both very good, thought I especially liked the Perry’s Tot.  As its ‘navy strength’ (114 proof) it is bold!  The taste is predominantly Juniper but with some nice citrus notes and a bit of sweetness to round it out.  Excellent for a Martini or even a G&T, if your’re so inclined.

The Dorothy Parker was more delicate.  There is still Juniper dominating the flavor but with a lot more floral elements and a touch of spice.  An excellent Martini if one prefers a more floral taste.

Not wanting to stumble around LA, I only had those two Martinis.  I will definitely return to try some of the other gin options that are available.  For that reason Kendall’s gets two Martini stems.  Martini Glass UprightMartini Glass Upright

 

For Selection Kendall’s earns an A:
Their collection of gins on the day I visited included the following:  New York Distilling Company’s “Perry’s Tot” Navy Strength and “Dorothy Parker”, Beefeater 24, Bombay, Bombay Sapphire, Plymouth, Aviation, Oxley, St. George Terroir, Tanqueray Malacca, Ford’s, Edinburgh, & Martin Miller.  Their collection does change periodically.

Their web site is:
www.patinagroup.com/kendalls-brasserie-and-bar