Amber Vermouth Cocktails: London Martini No. 1 – Yellow Mellow*

The Martini Cocktail was born in the 1880s, the younger brother of the Manhattan. It was a little sweet as it used Old Tom Gin vs today’s ubiquitous London Dry and Italian vermouth. The original was only overtaken in popularity by the Dry Martini Cocktail in the early thirties.

In the early 20th century, Mary McClane, the Wild Woman of Butte, when lusting after London born music hall star Alice Lloyd, wrote “I would like to see her drink a Martini Cocktail because a Martini with its amber light would suit her”. The vermouth at the time was said to have a ‘dainty pale gold tint‘, which could be said of our London Vermouth Company No.1 Amber Limon today.

So to make a Martini Cocktail for 2020s reminiscent of the 1920s try

Ingredients:

•          60ml London Vermouth Company No. 1 Amber Limon

•          60ml Old Tom Gin

We like to use Gins that are actually made in London. Jensens is one of our favourite old Tom Gins. Alternatively use Hayman’s Old Tom Gin.

•          Lemon Peel

•          Opies Cocktail Onions

Method:

Combine Amber Vermouth, Gin & Bitters in chilled mixing glass add ice cubes and stir. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Twist the lemon peel zest side down over the glass to release oils then add onion and lemon as a twist.

*The Mellow Yellow is named after Ogden Nash’s ode to the Martini Cocktail below

A DRINK WITH SOMETHING IN IT

There is something about a Martini

A tingle remarkably pleasant;

A yellow, a mellow Martini;

I wish that I had one at present.

There is something about a Martini,

Ere the dining and dancing begin,

And to tell you the truth,

It is not the vermouth-

I think that perhaps it’s the gin.