My New Favorite martini

Another spring cleaning cocktail for you this week. I really hate throwing things away if I can help it, and I admit that I probably stretch a few bottles a little past their best by date, you know which ones I’m talking about. By the way this doesn’t mean that they’ve gone off, its just a suggestion that they may no longer be at peak flavor. Despite this fact, I would highly suggest keeping your vermouth fresh, and not just because I have been personally victimized by unrefrigerated vermouth. Bad vermouth will ruin a good cocktail. This goes for sweet vermouth, though it does last longer, as well as Lillet Blanc in my opinion. Which means that you need to buy your vermouth consistently  in small quantities ,or in the case of Lillet drink it consistently and in larger portions.

While I am perfectly happy to drink Lillet over ice or as a spritz, some times you just want something a little more serious. Based on the classic 50/50 martini combo (gin and vermouth in equal amounts) this is the perfect cocktail for when you want a martini but not the ABV of a martini, and you just are never going to like vermouth that much. Lillet, and one of my favorites, Highclere Castle gin are the perfe

Highclere Half and Half
1.5 oz. Highclere Castle gin
1.5 oz. lillet blanc

Combine in a shaker with ice and shake until very cold. Strain in to a coupe and garnish with a bourbon cherry.

Cheers!