RECIPE: Perfect Cocktail

While FizzyCocktail is still finding its legs (ie: while my liquor cabinet’s inventory is completely lacking in more ‘specialized’ spirits — I’m looking at you, Amer Picon and Byrrh Wine…) we will continue to enjoy some of the Mixing Master’s simpler charms, or “easy cocktails” as I’ve taken to calling them. Luckily in this case, an “easy cocktail” is also the Perfect Cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 Ice Cubes

and equal parts of:

• Dry Gin
• French Vermouth
• Italian Vermouth

Combine all in a mixing glass. Stir. Strain into a Cocktail Glass and serve.

Notes:

So, basically — delish. I had to keep reminding myself that I was only allowed to drink ONE cocktail. I’m thinking I’d better adopt this as a mantra right now; otherwise this blog will quickly become the story of “How I Became A Lush While Exploring My Family’s History.”

Anyway, back to business. I checked some early 20th century mixing guides to get the skinny on the difference between French and Italian Vermouth. French Vermouth is essentially what we would now refer to as ‘dry’ (or white) vermouth. It was pale in color and less sweet than Italian Vermouth. Italian Vermouth would be today’s ‘sweet’ (or red) vermouth, reddish in color – obviously, and as the name also implies, a bit sweeter than the French variety.

It all sounds — and tastes — perfectly wonderful to me.