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The Gibson

3.3

(3)

Image may contain Drink Cocktail Alcohol Beverage and Martini
Photo by Alex Lau.

This version of the classic martini variation relies on gin, blanc vermouth, dry vermouth, and onion pickling liquid. The trickiest part of the recipe is preparing the pickled onions that are added as a garnish, but the effort is well worth it. 

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 drinks

Ingredients

For the pickled onions:

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon juniper berries
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 halved garlic clove
1 bay leaf
1 pound small pearl onions, peeled, trimmed

For the martini:

2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce blanc vermouth
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
1/4 ounce onion pickling liquid
4 cups ice
Pickled onion for garnish

Preparation

  1. For the pickled onions:

    Step 1

    Whisk 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon juniper berries, 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 halved garlic clove, 1 bay leaf, and 1 1/4 cups water in a nonreactive container until salt and sugar dissolve. Add 1 pound small pearl onions, peeled, trimmed. Cover; chill at least 1 week and up to 3 months. Flavors will deepen with time.

  2. For the martini:

    Step 2

    Stir 2 ounces gin, 1/2 ounce blanc vermouth, 1/2 ounce dry vermouth, 1/4 ounce onion pickling liquid, and 4 cups ice in a large stirring or measuring glass 1 minute (this is key to rounding out the flavors). Strain into a martini glass; garnish with a pickled onion.

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