We often enjoy a cocktail at the end of the day. We call it Happy Hour if we partake earlier in the afternoon or Sundowners if we enjoy it as the sun sets. Here are a few interesting facts I discovered while putting this post together. #1 The term Happy Hour has been around for centuries. #2 The term sundowners originated in South Africa, marking the transition from day to evening, usually a gin & tonic. #3 When researching the term sundowners, I was first directed to pages about Sundowning Syndrome, which, sadly, is a complication of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Shaken or Stirred
Now we address the issue of whether it should be shaken or stirred. James Bond famously always asked for shaken, not stirred. However, after reading about the martini and cocktails in general, I discovered that cocktails comprised of only alcohol should not be shaken with ice as it dilutes the drink.
So, was James Bond a little soft? Did he need to dilute the gin? Hmm, who knows.
A martini should be stirred with a little ice and strained into the glass. Chill the gin and vermouth in the freezer before you make it, or keep the bottles in your refrigerator so they are already chilled.
Dirty Martini
Ingredients
180ml dry gin
60ml dry vermouth
60ml olive brine
Olives for garnish
Method
Pour the gin, vermouth and brine into a cocktail shaker, and add a little ice – preferably large pieces that will not melt quickly.
Stir the ice around, just enough to chill the drink.
Put the lid on the shaker and strain the alcohol into two chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a stick of olives.
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