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Left Bank Martini
I originally went against bartending convention and called for this cocktail to be shaken. The extra dilution and aeration created by shaking produces...
John CARR
11th July at 16:26
I don’t normally have spare white wine hanging around, so have been waiting to try this for quite a while, and was not disappointed. Will repay careful balancing of the sweet-dry element. Definitely a recipe to keep in your arsenal.
23rd July at 14:41
As per some of the others’ comments Lillet Blanc subbed nicely for white wine, taking it slightly towards corpse reviver no. 2 territory, or an “improved” Martinez. Will very happily serve to guests.
3rd July at 12:23
Brilliant! The Martini for those who don't like Martinis.
12th April at 19:08
We're a huge fan of this one, but made with Sky Wave London Dry Gin and Lillet Blanc as p to a dry vermouth. It's therefore a little sweeter but nonetheless delicious.
31st March at 22:27
This is a fantastic drink! Not as boozy as a traditional martini yet interesting to martini drinkers. Even shaken it's clear in the glass and the lime zest is the perfect finish to brighten up the elderflower liqueur.
18th November 2024 at 10:46
A wonderfully sophisticated and delicate Martini. But since we're on the Left Bank of the Seine, we decided to see our good host's recipe and raise it by adding two drops of absinthe. Ooh la la.
16th September 2024 at 00:04
Went to try this, did not have white wine! Found Lillet Blanc hiding in the fridge and it worked really well. We really like this martini variation.
28th July 2024 at 08:19
Made this to celebrate the opening of the Paris Olympics using Tanqueray No 10, Chase elderflower, sauvignon blanc and Cocchi dry vermouth. A beautiful, strong but flavourful cocktail, one of the best drinks you have created, Simon. But one question - why is it shaken?
Can I also take this opportunity, Simon, to thank you for all your knowledge and expertise over the years. It was your "Sauce Guide #2", that first showed me a clear and approachable way to make cocktails. Keep up the good work!
Can I also take this opportunity, Simon, to thank you for all your knowledge and expertise over the years. It was your "Sauce Guide #2", that first showed me a clear and approachable way to make cocktails. Keep up the good work!
28th July 2024 at 11:08
Many thanks, Garry. As I say in the review above, it's better shaken. Stirring all cocktails that don't contain juice is a recent bartending law and one that's sometimes best broken.
18th May 2024 at 16:38
Probably the best variation of dry martini I've tried, with the eldelflower "cutting" the dryness instead of the olive. Although martinis depend a lot on the vermouth, I should mention the San Basile (a brazilian destilery) elderflower liquor tastes great here.
5th April 2024 at 23:02
Made with Gray Whale gin (one of my favorites), and Lillet blanc instead of the white wine (working with available ingredients at home). It was still a very tasty drink despite the substitution, and my wife who "doesn't really like gin" also kept going back to it and finished her glass.
6th April 2024 at 06:28
That's great to hear. The recipe is forgiving when it comes to the wine—it tastes good pretty much whatever you use; just affects the style of the finished cocktail.
19th February 2024 at 01:00
Benjamin Franklin supposedly said that wine "was proof that God loves us". I have mused that if he'd had a Martini he would have said that about them. I love them all from dry through perfect to the Martinez. This one is just plain awesome.
15th January 2024 at 06:43
This is often what I make for people that know they "don't like gin". Most leave loving it, the rest just really like it. Great stuff, thank you. :-)
15th January 2024 at 07:22
Many thanks for your kind words and support.
9th November 2023 at 18:45
I wonder if someone has switched the wine to a sparkling wine, blanc de blancs or sparkling wine from sauvignon blanc. Like shaking other ingredients and topping with the sparkling wine.
30th August 2023 at 07:53
Just used random cheap wine we got for free from the liquor store, was really good, though probably because of the lower quality, the wine got mostly lost. Nevertheless, the interaction between the dry vermouth, elderflower and gin was spectacular.
7th June 2023 at 08:24
Love this twist on a Martini?so does the better half,I used sav blanc and didn't use any lime as it wasn't in the recipe,will be drinking regularly.
6th June 2023 at 22:52
My cocktail preferences run towards the Manhattans and Old Fashioned variations rather than Martinis. But gin is always on hand for G&Ts or Negronis. I wanted to try this, but I wasn’t going to open a bottle of Chardonnay for a half ounce since I had a nearly empty bottle of Lillet Blanc in the fridge. The result is a bit sweeter than you intended, but delicious nonetheless. I would offer this variation to someone who prefers a sweeter drink but thinks they don’t like gin. Game changer!
4th May 2023 at 20:19
In an effort to be able to briefly appear sophisticated to people that don't know me better I've been trying to get into Martinis. So far with pretty limited success. This feels like a good first step and it's definitely the first Martini I've unreservedly enjoyed.
10th April 2023 at 08:19
Have you ever try this one with Four Pillars Chardonnay?
10th April 2023 at 09:19
Sadly not but I suspect would be brilliant.
20th February 2023 at 23:44
Really nice. I wonder about using Dolin Blanc instead of dry wine? I will try that next time for fun!
21st February 2023 at 14:42
Will work well but will produce a slightly sweeter cocktail.
8th January 2023 at 15:36
I liked the recipe as is, but if you use a more potent gin or for those who may want a touch of sweetness, you could try adding a drop of Midori in it. No more than half a bar spoon, it will give it a little color and just enough sweetness without taking too much away from the original flavor.
30th November 2022 at 23:01
An aromatic, balanced drink. Great with kung pao chicken!
23rd September 2022 at 19:56
Excellent, well done Simon, one that can make noobs get into Martinis. It has this nice acidity which lacks a bit in the more classic recipes.
16th September 2022 at 20:04
Another Martini to add to my list. I'm a fan of Shaken Martini as I love a Vesper (Tempus Fugit Kina) si this one intrigued me. The Elderflower fragrance and the flavours from the vermouth just brought it alive. I used Monkey 47 so a lesser gun might need a rich extra
26th August 2022 at 18:08
My neighbour says he doesn’t like Martinis, but he likes this one, and so do I. You need to be careful with your choice of gin, though: Tanqueray export (my standard) is far too assertive. Vodka works well. I think I prefer this with just ¼ oz. St Germain, but I need to try a few more times before I can be sure. This is a great recipe for playing with, because it is so finely balanced. Well done, Mr D!
12th August 2022 at 13:25
I used Txabarri Bizkaiko Txakoli instead of Chablis. More notable, I accidentaly used vodka ínstead of gin, and must say the result was still spectacular!
25th June 2022 at 20:01
A tasty and refreshing cocktail for sipping on the patio. I found the published version a tad sweet for me so I reduced the St. Germain to 1/4 shot and it did the trick. I used a Niagara (Canada) unoaked chardonnay as well.
24th April 2022 at 01:22
Fantastic variant of the Martini, love the balance vs. the traditional dry Martini recipe. I did NOT go light on the lime oil squeeze, but I'm a lime lover!
20th March 2022 at 20:59
Yes, another great cocktail. I only had Ch-Ducasse Bordeaux Blanc open, which is 70% Sémillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc; It worked well
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30th January 2022 at 01:01
This was outstanding. It is lightly floral and the wine adds a nice touch. The flavours all blend well together. One of the best martinis we have had.
Anonymous
31st October 2021 at 18:27
This is really lovely. The elderflower adds a very pleasant note of sweetness and perfume. A nice change from a regular martini.
12th July 2020 at 18:42
A wonderful anytime beverage. Proof enough for me that Simon is a cocktail genius !
13th July 2020 at 06:10
Thanks Andrew. I'm far from a genius but it is a tasty drink if I do say so myself.