Kelly,
This brings me back to a moment many years ago, when on a Montreal street, I was chatting with friends. An acquaintance of an artist friend of mine, happened by, and said he had a lump of hash, he was not interested in smoking, and, well...would we like it. He told us, someone had "tossed" it through the open window of his flat. Huh??? I mean..yeah, man. Montreal being what it was at the time, we did indeed inhale mid-day on Crescent Street (beautiful little street downtown with fine shops, restaurants, and bars), in plain view of all passersby (nobody there really cares about such, and hey...it's Canada). Someone said something funny, or what sounded hilarious at the time, and we ended up convulsing in laughter, literally rolling on the sidewalk, (the kind of laughing that's so bad, you wish it would stop, 'cause your sides are beginning to hurt). Our friend (who had NOT indulged) just looked at us smirkingly and said, " I can see you guys like the hash!"
Obviously if the recipe is correct, and used prudently the Martini can take one to similar nice places.
Thus let me repeat it here (try to do it in this sequence, and all should flow well):
"Benjamin" Martini (I'm thinking of changing this to Dan Martini...for Dan J, to be sipped in peace).
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1. Keep a bottle of Tanqueray (or other high-grade Gin in freezer). nb: A vodka Martini, is NOT a Martini (truly).
2. For more aesthetics, keep a misted or lightly moistened cocktail glass also in the freezer.
3. Take your freezered gin, and into a glass mixing cup or measuring glass, measure out 3-4 oz of gin (2 really won't do it, and 4 is about the limit, I usually settle for 3 1/2).
4. "Drool" a little dry vermouth down the side of the mixing glass (this is a judgement call. When I say drool, I mean the tiny amount equivalent to baby drool. Err on the dry side, is best).
5. Add 1 or 2 (not more) drops of Angoustura liquid bitters to the mix.
6. In a stainless steel cocktail mixer put cubes of ice.
7. Pour the Martini contents you already have into the steel mixer, cover and shake. A brief, vigorous shake will do it. THEN...let sit..for about one minute. (I know you'll be anxious to start sippin',but wait for one minute).
8. Now, pour into the frosted cocktail glass that you had in your freezer, and add garnish of choice. I use 2 or 3 chunky spanish-type olives. Parsley or other green veg is fine...your choice. You may see ice crystals in your glass..no mind, all the better.
9. NOW...the most important part. Sip, enjoy, and remember how lucky you are, how lucky we all are..to be able to enjoy this fine beverage, hopefully in good health, maybe in good wealth, but more importantly with friends and loved ones, if possible, and in social discourse, all the better. And...not too many; the Geenie Martini can be a real beast if allowed to "run wild".
viz:
"With just a little tipple,
He felt a gentle ripple,
Of mild euphoric bliss, that made him charming.
With more gin on the brain,
He kinda went insane,
With a reckless disregard that was alarming".
Enjoy, Gene
