

It’s Mixology Monday time again, and I love the theme this month: “That’s Not A Martini!” This is a phrase I admit to saying pretty much every time I go to a bar and see a list of “martinis” that makes no mention of gin.
The challenge this month, set by fellow Ontarian Dagreb of Nihil Utopia, is to “make a Martini that’s wearing a hat.” In his words:
A Telecaster’s not an Esquire. A Melody Maker’s not a Les Paul Jr. A Marauder ain’t a Crown Vic. A Blue Moon is no Martini… well, almost. Take away the dash to a quarter ounce of Creme Yvette and we’re left with gin (a must!), dry vermouth, and orange bitters. That’s a Martini! It’s at least one canonical Martini anyway. This month’s Mixology Monday theme is that which is almost, but not quite, a Martini. Perhaps there are dashes (or more) of a liqueur (or two) added to the basic structure. Perhaps a Fino Sherry (or other fortified/aromatized wine) is standing in for vermouth. Maybe there’s Oxygene instead of bitters? Gin, certainly! Use your imagination! Use your library! Make a Martini, that’s wearing a hat!
I am a week and two days early posting this but it was delicious and I wanted to make it the 4:00 DCT weekly cocktail. I got the Elemakule Tiki bitters at BYOB Cocktail Emporium in Toronto and I am loving them in so many drinks. They can be ordered online.
2 oz gin (go for something robust; I used our “house gin,” Tanqueray)
1/4 oz Lillet Blanc
Generous splodge of Bittermens “Elemakule Tiki” bitters
Stir with ice until shaker is frosty. Serve with a twist of lemon.
Here is Dagreb’s reCAPitulation (I see what he did there) of the behatted cocktails. Cheers!
Mixology Monday
Nihil Utopia