The Off Topic Topic

[The Brain]

At least I try.

Your America-bashing is pretty damn lazy though.

Not as lazy as Americans.

[Josephus]

So what's a good ratio of vodka-martini mix for the perfect martini? 2-1? 3-1?

[sbr]

So what's a good ratio of vodka-martini mix for the perfect martini? 2-1? 3-1?

Martini mix?  I have no idea what that is.  Do you mean the dry vermouoth?  In that case no less than 5-1.  And stirred not shaken.

[Josephus]

Yeah, I meant what's the best ratio mix of vodka and martini (dry vermouth).

Thanks. 5-1 seems about right. I've read recipes of 3-1, and that seems too meh for me.

[Sheilbh]

So what's a good ratio of vodka-martini mix for the perfect martini? 2-1? 3-1?

Depends on your taste.  If you like it ultra dry just use the vermouth to wash the ice.  When I worked in a bar I was told the story of one famous heavy drinker, possibly Churchill, who'd let light shine through the vermouth bottle into the mixer and that was enough.

However if you mean 'perfect' as in 'sweet' and 'dry' then 5-1, but the 1 should be half sweet vermouth and half dry vermouth

[Ideologue]

Yeah, I meant what's the best ratio mix of vodka and martini (dry vermouth).

Thanks. 5-1 seems about right. I've read recipes of 3-1, and that seems too meh for me.

1-0.

[Josephus]

1-0 is just a shot, not really a martini. Really what I've done is I've thrown some ice cubs into my shaker, filled up with Stoli till there was an inch or so left and then put in the vermouth. Came out nice.

[Admiral Yi]

You chill it and put it in a martini glass with some garnish and it's a martini.

[Capetan Mihali]

I don't like martinis, but dry vermouth is the thin green line that separates your classy cocktail from straight booze.

The original martini cocktail was 1:1 gin and vermouth; even as late as the early 40s it was 2:1.

[Ed Anger]

Alton Brown makes drinks, badly acts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HrxondwCzI

[sbr]

I love Alton Brown, as goofy as he is.

[Ed Anger]

His show on the tres leche cake got my wife to make one. Delicious.

Plus he loves guns.

[Syt]

[jimmy olsen]

Nice find Syt! 

[jimmy olsen]

I like the end of year editorials by the NYT's disunion blog, especially this one.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/a-sad-fearful-raging-year/?smid=fb-disunion

Another year has been added to the ages of human existence; a sad, fearful, raging year swells the wild stream of history, – a year replete with some of the most terrible and revolting scenes of human passion, and some of the grandest scenes of human virtue. It is a year that has seen foul treason rear its head in the midst of peace and plenty .... But the New Year opens with hope; with rebellion gasping for its life; with the iron hand of the military and naval power of the land upon its throat. It opens upon new ideas of progress, with new aspirations for future national grandeur, with new developments of social and political truths. It opens with a confidence that this "land of the free," shall take its place again as the banner nation in the march of civilization. It opens with a higher appreciation of the rights of man.
- The Hartford Daily Courant