Just Make Your Martini on the Rocks
Most people – even people who know relatively little about cocktails – know what a martini should look like. Served (without ice) in a glass on a stem with inclined sides. There should also be a lemon twist or olive oil. This is well known . But while this version of the drink is iconic, it is not refreshing. A glass of iced gin and vermouth? It’s really cool.
This, of course, contradicts most of what I’ve said about martinis, but as with Portland’s volatile summer, my mind and mood change quickly and without warning. (I also submit that by knowing the rules, you have the right to break them.)
If you don’t trust me, that’s okay: listen to the insightful and serious cocktail voices at PUNCH , who are also fans of martini-on-stones. According to them, this drink is a retro classic – think of Don Draper at the garden party – and the reasoning behind this is:
Ice, of course, makes things cold, and the Martini on the rocks will stay cold longer than one served straight. As Sigram crowed in a 1960 commercial: “Who said Martini is not a summer drink? Our nice host prepares an iced martini that tastes fresh and frosty when in the shade at 90 degrees! “
Detractors will point out that ice, while keeping the cocktail cool, also dilutes the drink dangerously. But at the time, this was also considered an advantage.
“They didn’t get you too drunk,” said Adam Platt, referring to the usual for his father, “a useful thing for a diplomat, and that was his profession.”
Plus, it’s easier to do. You don’t have to fiddle with a mixing glass and you don’t have to worry about reaching the ideal dilution point. Just toss it in a glass of ice and let the frozen water do the trick. This strategy works well with any kind of martini, but I like mine drier as it is slightly more watered down. (Although I note that the martini-on-the-cliffs are a little easier to gobble up than one served, so it doesn’t always have time to thin that much.)
To make an iced martini you will need:
- 2 1/2 ounces of your favorite gin
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- Cracked ice
Fill a lowball with cracked ice and add gin and vermouth. Stir a little, garnish with olive oil or a twist – done. Drink and repeat as needed until summer is over. (These martinis are great for outdoor barbecues, but they also make a fantastic bath drink, especially hot water and all.)