Cocktail revelations from the masters
February 12, 2009 at 10:50PM
The true martini: The martini has been "abused," they say. It should almost always be gin. Watch the amount of vermouth, and no olives. "We don't even have olives here," Maloney said. Lastly, a martini should never be shaken -- only stirred, no matter what James Bond says.
Muddling: Cocktail muddling is all the rage. Cott warned against going overboard. "To grind something into oblivion just isn't necessary," he said. Mint and other often-mashed ingredients should be gently muddled -- just enough to release their essential oils.
Glassware: At Bradstreet, many cocktails are served in a stemmed 5-ounce glass, commonly known as a champagne coupe. Each glass is accompanied by a 3-ounce sidecar, which you can use to freshen your drink. Martinis in larger glasses will warm faster because of their girth. Smaller glassware assures that "the final sip should still be cold," Maloney said.
TOM HORGEN
