Very Cold, Very Dry

Whenever a celebrity passes, I’ll go through the usual motions: Text friends and/or family who perhaps like this person, maybe with an article link, read said link, look at other famous people’s tributes posted on social media, and then move on. It’s not that I don’t feel sympathy for their families or a bit of sadness, it’s just that I don’t personally know them. They’ve maybe been on my TV screen, and I’ve connected with the character they’re playing, but they haven’t directly impacted my life in anyway.

However, when Diane Keaton died on October 11th at the age of 79, it hit me hard. I grew up watching her movies, especially “Father of the Bride” (all the two proceeding sequels, thank you) and “First Wives Club”. As I got older I fell in love with her later films, and even enjoyed “Book Club”, where she starred with other acting legends. I loved how they portrayed these characters as lively, sexual beings who weren’t afraid to tell their husbands they needed more intimacy after reading “50 Shades of Grey”, which sparked their desires again. I wish more new outlets highlighted this movie when talking about her career, but when you’ve starred in “The Godfather” and got an Oscar for “Annie Hall”, you’re going to have to skip a few.

As I go on and on, you’re probably wondering what this has to do with martinis.

Well, this past weekend I watched one my all-time favorites, “Something’s Gotta Give”. I won’t go into the plot if you haven’t seen it (make yourself a martini and go watch it!), but in a scene towards the end of the movie, Diane Keaton’s character is having dinner with her daughter, ex-husband and his very young girlfriend. She’s anxious during the meal, but looks fabulous in a white pantsuit, downing her two martinis. So in honor of this fabulous human and actress, she is this week’s martini icon.

Cheers to you, Diane.

On the playlist tonight: “I Fall in Love Too Easily” by Chet Baker Sings

Chet’s soft, melancholic voice adds to the haunting pain he must feel when he sings these lyrics:

My heart should be well-schooled
‘Cause I’ve been fooled in the past
But still, I fall in love so easily
I fall in love too fast

Makes you want to sit in a dark corner in a well worn leather chair, nursing a martini as you reflect on how things went wrong with the one you got away (And in a way, this song pays homage to Something’s Gotta Give as she falls so hard for Jack Nicholson’s character, Harry.)

Tonight’s Martini: The Gibson

Eric and his father, Andy, always prefer their martinis with onions. When we’re all together, we have happy hour at around 3:00, typically with charcuterie, cheese from the local deli, and potato chips. The perfect classic trio. It’s so much easier to make them at home, because I cannot tell you how many times we have been at a restaurant and when we ask for onions, the waiter asks if we want them chopped (yes, really), or hasn’t heard of a Gibson.

We use these onions, whatever gin we have on hand (I’ll make recommendations below), and Dolin Vermouth.

There are two stories as to why is it called the Gibson (you can read more about it here), but whether it’s based on an illustrator named Charles Dana Gibson who did The Gibson Girl Drawings or if it was a man named Gibson who asked for onions at a bar in San Francisco, because he believed that onions in a martini they keep the doctor away (my favorite theory). But whatever is the true story, I definitely believe a martini with any garnish cures all.

Gin: Bombay Sapphire is Eric’s favorite, but any London Dry Gin is perfect. See our recommendations here.
Vermouth: Dolin Vermouth
Garnish: 3 onions

Recipe:
You’ll need:
A scale (or measuring cup)
Ice
Cocktail stirrer
Cocktail Mixing Glass
Cocktail Strainer
Chilled martini glass* see note
3 oz (around 100 ml) of Gin
Splash of Dolin Dry Vermouth
3 onions on a cocktail pick

Directions:

Prepare the onion garnish and set aside.
Combine the liquid ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

• We recommend that you put a martini glass in the freezer at least 30 mins prior to mixing. You can also fill a martini glass with ice and water, as shown in the above photo if you have a fragile glass you don’t want to put in the freezer, or you forget.

I hope you enjoy this martini with your favorite Diane Keaton movie. Drop a comment on which one you watched!