House of Lords Martini

Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut, 1973

4 parts House of Lords gin

1 part dry vermouth

1 lemon twist, for garnish

Place the gin and vermouth in a mixing glass, fill it two-thirds of the way with ice, and stir until chilled.

Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with the lemon twist, and enjoy.

I had her bring Dwayne Hoover his customary drink, which was a House of Lords martini with a twist of lemon peel.

Breakfast of Champions tells the tale of an encounter between two very different men, Kilgore Trout and Dwayne Hoover. Trout is a struggling science fiction writer, and Hoover is a successful businessman on the verge of going insane. After reading Trout’s novel, Hoover finally loses his mind and the book details the violent rampage that ensues. Its surreal ending (involving time travel, among other things) makes it a mystifying read, though it’s intended as a critique of the harsh nature of American society and its cruelty to its most vulnerable citizens.

The House of Lords Martini sounds very fancy, but it’s really just a Martini made specifically with House of Lords gin, which is no longer produced, though there are some modern equivalents, such as the House of Lords gin from the Houses of Parliament shop in London. You’d probably have to time travel to get ahold of an original bottle.