Happy Hour With 3 Ingredients: Polarized Picletini
Happy weekend and welcome back to Happy 3 Ingredient Hour , a weekly drinks column featuring very simple yet delicious libations. Today we present my invigorating and salty favorite that I’ve been drinking for years : the polarizing Pickletini.
Martini lovers, myself included, tend to be jerks when it comes to their favorite drink. Honestly, who can blame them? I’m not just talking about vodka versus gin. There are much more serious attacks on martinis like appletini and whatever the hell it is:
Purists may condemn my picletini as a crime against gin and vodka, but let’s pause for a second. A filthy martini made with olive pickle is generally considered a member of the martini family, albeit slightly rough. They look like your very noisy aunt, which is a little embarrassing, but to be honest, partying is a lot of fun every now and then.
Pickletini is just another messy relative of the martini, but slightly brighter and slightly less salty than its olive pickle-infused sister. It’s also surprisingly tasty and delicately savory if you use the right pickle and gin.
As you probably know, I don’t like to be overly strict when it comes to booze and brands, but I have a very strong opinion about pickletini. First of all, if you are not preparing the pickles yourself, you may need a few kosher Claussen dill (any shape will work). Claussen’s brine is just the right amount of salty, sour and seasoning. And while I’m usually a fan of just about any gin, my dears, Hendrick’s is what you need because the cucumber notes in this beautiful bottle were created for this cocktail.
Okay, now that we have all the details, let’s make this shiny, shiny bastard. You will need:
- 2 1/2 oz gin Hendrick
- 3/4 oz Claussen brine
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
Pour everything into a mixing glass filled with ice (or half a liter) and stir until well chilled and slightly diluted. Pour through a strainer – there are pieces in the brine – into a glass compartment and garnish with a gherkin (Trader Joe brand, please) if you like.