3:1 is Good Odds

Wow, it's been a little while, hasn't it? The New Year comes and goes and I have nothing to say about it publicly, even though I did find a new brain-dead easy recipe for hot wings (or hot whatever-fits-in-a-quart-Ziploc-bag.) Let me try to make it up to you.

I've just opened a very thoughtful Christmas present. Clay and Tina were nice enough to give me a Hendrick's Gin gift box, with a large bottle of gin and accompanying cocktail shaker. Upon uncorking the inky black bottle, it sheds a soothing aroma of flowers and berries. I poured half a jigger and sipped it; the gin pops as soon as it hits the tongue with mellow sweetness and just a little mint. Very nice. After the first taste I was ready to go all the way...

Toby's Preferred Martini:

• 3 parts gin
• 1 part dry vermouth
• 2 jalapeño olives

Liquid ingredients should be poured over a copious amount of cubed ice in a cocktail shaker and shaken vigorously - violently - put everything you've got into it. The cubes agitate the concoction and enhance its flavor. Strain out into a chilled martini glass and introduce the olives on a skewer. You should see slivers of chipped ice on the surface - tiny floes hovering over a sea of fire water. I like mine just a little dirty; the brine sticking to the olive as it's transported from the jar to the drink is plenty. I also recommed using jalapeño-stuffed olives; the added spice stimulates the taste buds, making the flavor brighter and richer.

The Hendrick's in particular takes a dramatic turn in a martini. While Bombay Sapphire keeps some of its sweetness, Hendrick's develops a deep smokiness, as if its floral bouquet had been pressed and dried inside a leather-bound book. It might not replace my Bombay, any more than oranges have replaced my apples. I'll savor it.