Smoky Martini

The SMOKY MARTINI is the classic embellishment of a Gin Martini using a small amount of Scotch in the place of vermouth. In spare quantities, the Scotch whisky’s smoky notes blend beautifully with the gin’s botanicals. It’s an easy, no frills martini that should always show off your best gin and best Scotch. Little touches, such as chilling the glass and twisting the lemon peel over the drink, make a difference.

Requirements: Gin (London dry gin preferred), blended or single-malt scotch, lemon peel

• 2.5 oz. gin
• 1/4 – 1/2 oz. Scotch whisky
• lemon twist garnish

Combine the gin and Scotch in an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until well chilled. Strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist after squeezing it over the drink.

Comments: Some of the best 2021 London dry gins as rated by Liquor.com are: Bombay Sapphire, Hayman’s, Highclere Castle, Tanqueray and Beefeater. I enjoyed it using Hendrick’s. You can experiment with the Scotch by trying a blend like Dewar’s or a smoky single malt Scotch like Laphroaig. The Smoky Martini is appealing before a hearty meal, good for more formal business get-togethers, or simply any occasion where tasty & strong is more important than sweet & fruity.

Origin: Norman Mailer’s 1991 novel Harlot’s Ghost presented a character based on a real-life 1950’s CIA agent who mixed a Martini by rinsing the ice in a shaker with Scotch before adding gin. Bartenders at the time of the novel picked up on the smoky gin recipe; although bartending legend, author and historian Dale DeGroff reportedly began serving the Smoky Martini in the 1970’s.

Similar Cocktails:

Pink Peppercorn Gin Gimlet – https://keetscocktails.com/pink-peppercorn-botanical-gimlet/

Gin Dirty Martini – https://keetscocktails.com/dirty-martini-vodka-or-gin/