The Rise In The At-Home Martini And 5 Delicious Recipes With A Twist

We love a Martini here at Consommé, whether it’s shaken, stirred or poured straight out a pre-made bottle (we kid… possibly) but the recent surge in lockdown-drinking has seen the rise in Martini’s find their true spot at the top of the charts and even receive a brand new nickname the Quarintini. Now we don’t know if we will ever admit to calling it that, but with these 5 simple and delicious twists on the original we will happily drink our way through them all. But, why has it suddenly regained its notoriety? Well, “one of the reasons the martini cocktail has grown in popularity is due to the fact that there is such a prevalence of high quality gins and vodkas and recently a rise in the number of extremely well made vermouth’s out there” Joe McCanta Head of Education and Mixology at Bacardi Limited comments. “The martinis is a very pure way to enjoy a cocktail - there’s nowhere to hid in the drink; it’s a great cocktail to make at home as it’s effortlessly elegant with very few ingredients” you don’t need to tell us twice.

The Connaught

The Connaught’s Simple Martini Cocktail

Starting off with the most iconic of gin cocktails - a Dry Martini. Created to be sipped and savoured but it never has to be plain or boring - it’s all in the details, as Giorgio Bargiani, Head Mixologist at The Connaught Bar states “the garnish might seem just a small detail, but it’s quality impacts the overall taste of the cocktail. We use unwaxed organic lemons, twist and squeeze the zest while pouring the cocktail and also around the glass rim for the aroma” .

75ml Star of Bombay Gin
15ml Martini Extra Dry Vermouth
3 Drops of Orange Bitters
Lemon Zest

1. Stir Star of Bombay Gin and Martini Extra Dry vermouth over ice. Strain into a frozen martini glass where you have previously added 3 drops of orange bitters.

2. Garnish with lemon zest.

Bombay Sapphire

The Bombay Sapphire Twice Twisted Martini

Franck Dedieu Brand Ambassador for Bacardi Ltd stands by the statement that  “A martini cocktail can be enjoyed in so many different ways. I like to play with the ratios of mine. Wet with a 50/50 ratio during the afternoon or for the aperitif with a lower alcohol content, and really dry and punchier in the evening, there is a perfect ratio for every occasion.” So get experimenting in the kitchen/lounge/make-shift bar/ wherever you have alcohol and allow your personality to shine through. Swap and change up your vermouths or bitters to tailor towards your own personal tastes and allow that personality and expression to come alive.

50ml Bombay Sapphire Gin (best served -18 degrees C, straight from the freezer)
15ml Martini Bianco Vermouth
3 Dashes of Premium Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange Bitters for example)
Orange Zest
Lemon Zest

Method:
1. Add all the ingredients to be chilled mixing glass and stir quickly but carefully in a clockwise rotation for 20-25 seconds.

2. Twist and squeeze the lemon and orange peel directly into a well-chilled or frozen martini cocktail glass and then drop in.

3. Strain the well chilled martini cocktail into the glass, over the garnish then serve.

The Connaught

The Connaught’s Apricot and Blue

The Apricot and Blue Martini is one of the more modern interpretations of the iconic classic created by Agostino Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani. This seasonal drink, which, can take up to a month to make at home (but is so worth it), is floral, rich and perfectly balanced and made to be stirred not shaken - “It’s a gentler technique” Perrone advises, which “conveys a fresher taste and a lighter texture to the drink thanks to greater aeration.” Even though this version may seem complicated it, again, is all in the details. “The secret for a perfect Martini lies in its simplicity, therefore in its details. Ice is paramount… use crystal clear ice that you can easily make at home by pouring water into an icebox with open top… freeze for 36 hours… then split to use the crystal-clear ice” underneath.

50ml Star of Bombay Gin
30ml Martini Extra-Dry Vermouth Infused with Apricot Kernel and Apricot Pulp
15ml Oxidised St-Germain Elderflower Liquer
3 Almond Oil Drops
1 Fresh Cherry
Mandarin Twist

Method:

1. To make your apricot infused vermouth - cut 4 medium sized apricots and keep the kernels. Put in a jar with martini Extra Day (4 apricots per 1 entire bottle, or alternatively 1 apricot per 200ml) Let rest for 12 hours, fine strain and store in the fridge.

2. Leave the St-Germain Elderflower liqueur to rest open for a month to allow to oxidise. The oxygen will work on the liquid over time and darken it.

3. Stir Star Bombay gin, infused vermouth and St-Germain elderflower liqueur over crystal clear ice and strain into a frozen martini glass.

4. Garnish with 3 drops of almond oil, one fresh cherry and a mandarin twist.

Grey Goose

The Grey Goose Vesper Martini

This classic cocktail is a twist on the Jame’s Bond variety, combining Grey Goose with Bombay Sapphire and Martini Ambrato for a slightly bitter and herbal serve that truly makes a statement. Joe McCanta, states that this cocktail is “based around three key ingredients…whether you use Grey Goose Vodka, or Bombay Sapphire Gin as the base you can personalise… to your liking; there are endless creative possibilities for how to serve”

25ml Grey Goose Vodka
75ml Bombay Sapphire Gin
15ml Martini Ambrato
Lemon Twist to Garnish

Method:
1. Stir the Grey Goose Vodka, Bombay Sapphire Gin and Martini Ambrato in a cocktail shaker.

2. Strain into a well-chilled cocktail glass

3. Garnish with a twist of lemon

Grey Goose

The Grey Goose Martini

Using Grey Goose Vodka, this cocktail has a long and satisfying finish making it an iconic choice whatever the occasion. Joe McCanta, understands this and knows that, “the Martini Cocktail is particularly fun for making at home as it is one cocktail that is entirely up to your taste. Shaken, or stirred, dry or wet, with a twist or dirty - you can really make it your own Best of all, it is relatively simple to make.”

50ml Grey Goose Vodka
10ml Noilly Prat Original French Dry Vermouth
Dash of Orange Bitters

1. Add your Grey Goose and Noilly Prat to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

2. Stir deliberately and stain into a chilled martini glass that has previously been filled with orange bitters.

3. Garnish to your liking.