The Perfect Martini & 5 Ethical Spirit Companies
When it comes to martinis, I’ve done my research. My previous entrepreneurial venture was a company called “MartiniBird” … so it was somewhat required.
To that end, what feels like a lifetime ago, I set out to find the best martini in San Francisco. It was a boozy learning experience that culminated in the following recipe by Joel Baker (at the time, the bar manager at the then-newly-minted private club, The Battery)
Below are the findings, along with 5 ethical spirit brands to consider for your liquor cabinet:
The MartiniBird
A couple of key tips to the perfect martini:
Despite what James Bond said, drinks made just from spirits (Martini, Manhattan, etc) should be stirred, not shaken. Leave the shaking for anything that contains juice, dairy, or eggs- when ingredients taste even better when they're foamy.
The best glassware for a martini is a nick and nora glass!
Recipe:
.5 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
2 oz Plymouth Gin
2 Dashes Orange Bitters
First, chill both your mixing and serving glasses. Then, fill the mixing glass about two thirds full with ice. Pour the gin, vermouth, and bitters over the ice. Take your spoon between your thumb and first two fingers and place it into the glass until it touches the bottom. Keeping your arm and fingers still, use your wrist to turn the spoon in the glass.
Stir for about 45 - 60 seconds. Ice doesn't just lower the temperature, but it also helps open the aromas of the drink. Like a martini that tastes like ethanol? Stir for 20 seconds. Like something a bit lighter? Be patient and stir for a minute or two.
Strain the cocktail into the chilled Nick and Nora glass, garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy!
Five Ethical Spirit Brands for Your Home Bar
Note: While I link to where these alcohols are available online, please check with your local spirit store. Even if they do not have this in stock, they can purchase in bulk and reduce the overall carbon imprint of your drink.
Fair Spirits
One of the challenges with distilled spirits is that the regions in which they’re produced often face significant political, social, and environmental injustice. Using America as an example, because the core products are agricultural (grains, grapes), sustainability is often in question. Fair Spirits offers a full line of alcohol, sourced responsibly and ethically. Fair’s vodka, for example, is made from fairtrade quinoa. As their company ethos states: “Our company believes in treating all people fairly. Our vision has taken us all over the world to source the best ingredients for our high quality spirits. We believe that all the people involved, in every stage of the process, should be treated equally.”
Elephant Gin
Elephant Gin is handmade in Germany but inspired by Africa. Distilled using 14 hand-selected botanicals, including rare African botanicals, Elephant Gin is produced in small batches. To date, Elephant Gin has donated €450,000 to foundations that support the conservation of its namesake, the African elephant. For every bottle sold, 15% of profits are donated to The Big Life Foundation, Space for Elephants, and The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Find out more at elephant-gin.com
Simple Vodka
1 in 8 people, and 1 in 5 children, in America face hunger on a daily basis. To combat this, Simple’s founders set out to create a product that would draw awareness to food insecurity in America and help fight hunger with each purchase. After months of research, and a chance happy hour, Simple Vodka was born.
Their mission is to develop a superior quality product, produce it sustainably, price it sensibly, and deliver positive social impact for our cause. For every bottle of Simple Vodka, they provide 20 meals to those in need in the US. That comes out to a bit more than 1 meal per drink.
One Gin
One Gin donates at least 10% of its profits to fund life-changing water projects in the world’s poorest communities. Launched on World Water Day in 2017, One Gin joins One’s range of ethical drinks that are working for a world in which everyone has access to clean and safe water, forever. So far, the One Brand has raised over $19 million for water projects, transforming the lives of over 3.5 million people in need.
Haus
I’m partial to this brand because I adore the founder, Helena. With ingredients sourced from their farm, this line of aperitifs is created with only natural fruits, herbs, and botanicals. Sustainability is core to Haus’ beliefs as a business. Their materials are sourced responsibly with care for forest conservation, and their boxes are made from up to 70% recycled material and are 100% recyclable (with material used that is not from recycled material is a byproduct of milling operations that would otherwise be considered waste)
