Left Bank Martini

Serve in a

Garnish:

Lime zest twist

How to make:

SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glass.

Recipe contains the following allergens:

• Chardonnay (Chablis) white wine – Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites
• Strucchi Dry Vermouth – Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Review:

An aromatic, dry blend. Modern bartending convention would suggest that this drink should be stirred. However, it's much better shaken. Go easy with the spray of lime zest oils - this delicate drink is easily overpowered with any more than a fine mist.

Variant:

Rocky Left Bank

History:

Left Bank hints at the use of wine in the recipe as the term usually refers to the region below the Gironde Estuary in Bordeaux encompassing the Médoc with St-Julien and Margaux. However, in this case, the name refers to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a district on the left bank (south) of the River Seine in Paris.

Created in 2006 by yours truly at the Cabinet Room in London for the launch of St-Germain elderflower liqueur, originally using Sauvignon Blanc rather than Chardonnay (but both work well, as indeed does any dry white wine). In 2013, I also reduced the elderflower liqueur from ¾ shot to ½ shot and the vermouth from ½ to a ¼ shot.
Martini cocktail and its evolution

More cocktails by Simon Difford

Nutrition:

One serving of Left Bank Martini contains 188 calories.

Alcohol content:

• 1.7 standard drinks
• 24.1% alc./vol. (48.2° proof)
• 23.5 grams of pure alcohol