Happy Hour With 3 Ingredients: Refreshing, Spring Martini
Hello everyone and welcome to Happy Hour 3 Ingredients , a weekly drinks column featuring very simple yet delicious libations. We’ll be sipping on an easy-to-make spring vodka martini this week.
I very rarely order a martini without gin, but one evening my favorite bartender convinced me to try a drink based on Julie Rainer’s Flatiron martini , and I wasn’t furious about it. We’ve made a few changes, replacing Lillet with Cocchi Americano , a crisp citrus aperitif wine with a bitter taste. We’ve also added a teaspoon of Cointreau instead of rinsing with it. The result is a strong yet tasty cocktail with vibrant citrus notes and a hint of sweetness. To make it you will need:
- 1 1/2 ounces of good vodka (I really love Reika now )
- 1 1/2 ounce cocci americano
- Bar spoon (about 5 milliliters) Cointreau
- Orange zest strip (skip if you think the garnish is an ingredient).
Pour everything into a mixing glass – half a liter will do – with ice and stir until cool. Strain everything into a chilled compartment glass. Squeeze a strip of orange zest (orange side down) into the drink and rub the zest around the rim of the glass. Take a sip, marvel at how drinkable this strong glass of booze is, and let it set the tone for your weekend.