Hold the Tomatoes Martini
Makes 6 drinks
If you love everything about a Bloody Mary except for the tomato part, here’s a rather potent drink that should be perfect for you. Your choice of vodka or gin is infused with all the powerful flavoring ingredients that add zing to a good mix, sans the tomato juice. It’s then served straight up, the way any good martini should be. Please note that this is not an impromptu drink because the mixture needs two days to infuse.
16 ounces (2 cups) vodka or gin
¼ cup diced fresh horseradish (no need to peel)
1 celery rib, diced
1 jalapeño or serrano chile, stemmed and sliced (leave the seeds in)
1 tablespoon cracked black peppercorns
Grated zest of 2 lemons
1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons green olive brine
2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
3 tablespoons celery salt for rimming the glasses (optional)
SUGGESTED GARNISHES:
Toothpicks with a green olive, cornichon, and cocktail onion
Sun-dried tomato halves (dry packed; not in olive oil) cut halfway up to form a slit
Combine the liquor, horseradish, celery, chile, peppercorns, lemon zest, and garlic, if using, in a glass jar and shake well. Add the lemon juice, brine, and fish sauce and shake well again. Allow the mixture to sit on the counter for 2 days, shaking it occasionally.
Line a fine-mesh strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth or strong paper towels and pour the liquid through it into a mixing bowl. Press with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Transfer the liquor to a glass jar and refrigerate.
Rim 6 stemmed martini glasses with celery salt, if desired, following the instructions here.
For each drink, pour about 3½ ounces of the liquor in a shaker filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a rimmed glass using a funnel to avoid wetting the rim. Garnish each drink with a toothpick with an olive, a cornichon, and a cocktail onion, and balance a sun-dried tomato half on the rim of the glass. Serve immediately.
Note: The liquor can be refrigerated for up to 3 months. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months, but the lemon juice and olive brine will freeze. Allow it to sit out at room temperature until it becomes clear.
stemmed martini