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Saturday Spirits

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There is just nothing like a classic martini. A smooth, ice cold martini is my idea of a perfect night cap. My personal order is a shaken, dirty and dry vodka martini served up. However, I’m not too picky… I’ll drink them a variety of ways depending on my mood and supplies.

The thing that I learned as a bartender is that there are not a lot of people comfortable ordering martinis. Often people would slide up to the bar and that they’d like a martini and then they’d be stumped by questions about the drink. It is good to know the differences between the terms so that you know what you like. No bartender wants to make you a drink you don’t enjoy.

Classic Martini and Tips for Ordering // A Well Crafted Party
Photo by Motormouth Studios

I’m sharing with you today some martini terminology and my recipe for my classic martini. Just gonna put this out there… there are a LOT of different ways to make martinis and there are a lot of “classic martini recipes” hanging out in the web. I’d say, test them and figure out what YOU like. That is the important part of all this anyways. Also, check back next week where I share some fun variations on the martini.

Classic Martini

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Gin or Vodka
  • 3/4 oz dry vermouth
  • ice
  • shaker and/or long spoon
  • fine mesh sieve (or strainer)
  • Martini glass (TIP: Throw your martini glass into a freezer for a nice frosted glass.)
  • Garnish: olives or lemon twist

Directions: 

  1. Pour your gin or vodka and dry vermouth over ice in a shaker
  2. Shake or Stir the ingredients and ice- (I like shaking it because I feel like it makes it nice and icy!)
  3. Strain the ingredients into a martini glass
  4. Garnish  your martini with a lemon twist or olives- (I’m all about the olives.)

Martini Terminology

What the heck does all that stuff mean anyways? Well, here are my definitions!

Dirty: Made with olive juice. I start with about 1/4 oz and sometimes, when I am feeling like having a really dirty martini I up the olive juice to 1/2 oz.

Dry: Less vermouth! When I make my dry martini I take my vermouth down to 1/4 oz. Though, if you want very dry just omit the vermouth entirely.

On the Rocks: Served over ice.

Perfect: A martini using 50% dry and 50% sweet vermouth

Shaken: Ingredients shaken over ice.

Stirred: Ingredients stirred with a bar spoon with ice for about 45 seconds or so. This doesn’t “agitate” the ingredients.

Up: Served in a martini glass with no ice.

Wet: This term isn’t used often…. but, just in case you LOVE vermouth this one is for you. This means that you’d like the vermouth upped in your drink.

With a Twist: Served with a citrus twist (typically lemon) instead of olives. Adds a bit of the smell and taste of the citrus oils to your drink.

Am I missing anything? What is your favorite martini order? Comment below!

 

Unplugged photo via Samuel Livingston Flickr
Unplugged photo via Samuel Livingston Flickr

I’m going unplugged this weekend…a much needed camping trip! Camping is my way of recharging and I seriously can’t wait to get away. But, I couldn’t leave without sharing my weekly Saturday Spirits post. You know I’ve got a beverage or two planned for my camping trip as well!

I promise to be thinking of you while I’m away. 😉
20 Cocktail Recipes from A Well Crafted Party

So, for today’s Saturday Spirits please check out the following AWESOME drink recipes. There is something for everyone in the list below. They are some of my favorite drinks that I’ve featured on the blog in the past.

Need something refreshing then check out the mojitos on the list. Want to try something different and a tad savory? Try the sweet pea cocktail that features, you guessed it, peas! Granitas take a long time, but are SO worth the effort. The Melon and Mint Granita Cocktail is divine.

20 of my favorite Well Crafted Cocktail Recipes:

  • His and Her Longbeach Lemonades — A his and her version of a classic.
  • Cherry Sangria — Cherries are so good during the summer, but the season doesn’t last long. Take advantage of the season with this sweet and sour sangria.
  • Gin & Basil Cocktail — Gin is the perfect summer sipper and it goes great with herbs.
  • Old Irish — This one is smokey and fantastic… great for an evening by the fire.
  • Brix Layer Cocktail — A local bartender taught me this one and the layering effect is both beautiful to the eye and the palate.
  • A Fruity Whiskey Collins — Whiskey Collins are a lovely classic drink to learn to make… this version is extra delish.
  • When Life Gives You Pears — Fall is coming around the corner and ripe pears don’t just have to make it into your salads. Get them in your next adult beverage!
  • Melon and Mint Granita Cocktail — Simply divine.
  • Sweet Pea Cocktail — Savory and slightly sweet, this is a fun way to get your greens!
  • Cucumber, herbs and gin cocktail — I’m not kidding when I say that Gin is good with herbs. The cucumber elevates this drink to a whole new level.
  • Rosemary Bliss— A friend created this concoction that involves a rosemary simple syrup. YUM.
  • Classic Mojito— Mint and rum… where can you go wrong?
  • Honeydew Melon Mojito— I love to change up the classics. This honeydew melon mojito mellows out the mint and makes for a yummy drink out in the sun.
  • Blackberry Mojito— Blackberries and mint belong together. That is all.
  • Elderflower Sparkler— Elderflower liqueur is often overlooked, but it is such a beautiful accompaniment to so many drinks. This sparkler is easy to make and fun to drink.
  • Ginger Jenni & Vanilla Bean Bubble Machine — I like making drinks up in honor of my birthday. These two drinks are all about the simple syrups.
  • Spiked Ice cream— Spiking your ice cream is easier than you think… and just as tasty as you can imagine!
  • Honey Orange Ginger Old Fashioned— Another twist on a classic!
  • And, because I’m going camping I can’t forget this delicious recipe for a S’more Cocktail!

So, now that you have a ton of new drink recipes… get working on putting together your summer bar cart and get drinking!

 

Have a wonderful weekend. I know I am!

Cherry Sangria Recipe // A Well Crafted Party

It’s Saturday Spirits again! Woohoo. This is quickly becoming my favorite series on the blog yet. Though, I do have some fun week long series coming up for the blog including a week long look at Favorite Family Recipes and another Picnic Week series!

This week I’m sharing a Sweet & Tart sangria recipe that makes for a beautiful bright pink beverage. Now, this is VERY cherry and VERY sweet & tart. But, it was perfect for a hot afternoon with a grilled dinner.

Sweet & Tart Cherry Sangria Recipe from A Well Crafted Party

Cherry Sangria Recipe

Makes approximately six 8oz glasses of sangria. Can be served chilled or over ice.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of Bloom Riesling (the Bloom Moscato  or any sweet riesling or moscato would also work really well!)
  • 1 cup of Cherry Juice (I got mine from Trader Joes)
  • 2-3 cups of pitted FRESH cherries. We used this trick to pit our cherries and it worked great!
  • 1 cup sweet vermouth
  • 1 cup orange juice

Directions:

  1. Pit your cherries and put into a pitcher with 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup sweet vermouth, and 1 cup cherry juice
  2. Let sit in fridge for 1-2 hours
  3. Pour chilled riesling or moscato into chilled, and soaked cherry concoction that you have had in your fridge.
  4. Serve over ice or just chilled! Be prepared to pucker and smile!

Sweet and Tart Cherry Sangria from A Well Crafted Party