Bitters? Sweet!

~ Meg

Week 20 in the Year of Drinking Adventurously! Artisanal Bitters.

Just so you know, I’m on vacation this week, muddling along with my LTE data plan for Internet. I’m not complaining, mind you, unplugging from civilization is a delight once in awhile. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to jump on with my Toast Tuesday post this week because last week was such a fail. This week’s potent potable is one I can endorse with complete confidence. Bitters — a classic cocktail ingredient.

Friday evening, I was scrambling around packing all the gear… Clothes, shoes, food, booze, not necessarily in order of importance. Getting the place clean for the house-sitter, taking the dog to the kennel. Did I mention it rained torrentially while I was doing all this? So hell no, I wasn’t making dinner on top of all that, somebody say takeout Chinese? I was stressed enough the way it is. I needed a good laugh and a good cocktail.

What better way to unwind and start vacation than with The Graham Norton Show I recorded from Tuesday (thank you BBC America) and a nice martini. And no, not one of those sweet abominations they are calling martinis these days. I’m talking gin, dry vermouth and bitters, with two big beautiful Spanish Queen olives to garnish. (And provide enough nutrition for me to feel smug).

And just like James Bond, (hopefully the next iteration of whom [of which?] will be either Tom Hiddleston or Aidan Turner, or maybe Idris Elba…) What was I saying…? Martini, yes… Hmm, wait a minute… The world’s worst spy doesn’t actually drink a classic martini does he? All right forget Bond, here’s what you do:

Add ice to your glass to chill it (then discard)
Add ice to your shaker
Splash in a few drops of bitters (I use Angostura, can’t go wrong)
Shake to coat your ice thoroughly
Add 2 shots of gin (pick a good one — I drank Bombay this time)
1 shot dry vermouth
Shake it again and pour into your chilled martini glass
Add 2 or more olives (a little of the brine too, if you like it dirty)

Drink and ahhhh, enjoy!

Ok, I’m getting in the hot tub. Got to soak my sore muscles and get ready for another day of hiking tomorrow.
Don’t forget to visit Harp, Lula Harp... To see how she used bitters this week!

Ok,  it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon not a martini…

Published by Meg

Easily amused, never bored and constantly distracted. My creative pursuits include writing, drawing, painting and photography.

46 thoughts on “Bitters? Sweet!”

      1. So NOT working on it but need to be working on it. Ha! I think I’ll be in better shape when I’m finished teaching and I have some free time over the summer… unless it’s beautiful picnic weather… hmm. xo

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  11. Jealous of the hottub… and I’ve never had a martini in my life. But you know me… I’m not much of a drinker. Though I do love Mom’s Christmas Eve Champagne Punch. Which you would probably laugh at being the sophisticated drinker you are! LOL 😀

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  13. Ok, I’ve never been a fan of matini’s, but the hot tub thing? I could get on board with that! Hope y’all are having fun, and thankfully, Fictional Kevin hasn’t buried you in a shallow grave….unless this post was made by him to throw off suspicion. 😃

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      1. Hahaha! Good! I enjoy Doc! And besides, prison sucks. Thank god for rational women in our lives, huh? Otherwise it’d be pure chaos! That’s really, really cool that y’all met. 😃

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