Belvedere Vibes
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen.
As i already have announced GDM is one of the nominees at the Marie Claire Blog Awards at the category man of style. Thought that competition we were lucky enough to learn more about the queen of spirits Belvedere. My favorite vodka and one of the spirits that i prefer the most. Wanting to share with you more about the values that Belvedere represents, how to use it and what to wear when you drink Belvedere i created this post.
The cocktail that i chose to make is of course Bond's favorite Cocktail, which is nothing else than a Vodka Martini. The Vodka Martini actually began with the name Kangaroo, as Paul Clarke points out onSerious Eats. The cocktail was one of those that U.S. bartenders created with the then new spirit that was hitting the market in the 1950's. Many of the first vodka cocktails were just as this one, a gin cocktail with a vodka base. Whether it was the public's changing tastes, their desire for a less aromatic Martini at lunch, or simply the growing popularity of vodka in general, the Vodka Martini became so popular that today you almost have to distinguish which liquor you want when ordering a Martini.
Again, following suit with the Gin Martini, over the years the Vodka Martini began to lose its vermouth to the point that it often didn't even make it into the glass. Despite the contradiction, this is often called a Dry Vodka Martini. However, the simple ratio 2:1 of vodka-vermouth gives the drink some sort of depth and today's vodka market holds a variety of premium options that pair very well with dry vermouth. It would be reasonable that either Martini should have at least a hint of vermouth.
The next option for the drink is the garnish and bitters. Personally, I enjoy orange or aromatic bitters in my Martinis. The garnish could either be a light lemon twist or a few olives with either the standard pimento or stuffings like blue cheese or jalapeno.
The beauty of the clean Martinis is that you can customize them to your own style, taste, or even the mood you're in at any given time.
My own Vodka Martini recipe
1 1/2 ounces Belvedere vodka
3/4 ounce dry vermouth
2 dashes bitters (optional)
Lemon twist or/and 1 olive for garnish
Stir all the ingredients with ice in a shaker, then pour into a chilled martini glass or - if you have one - a champagne goblet. Add a lemon twist and one olive.