Gin & It
It’s been a whirlwind month and we’re only through the 2nd week of May! May’s always been a busy month for me. Between all my boys’ birthdays (there are 3!), Mother’s Day, 2 anniversaries (mine and my parents), it’s always insane trying to schedule everything. But this year’s especially nuts! Last week I was in Dallas for the Robotics World’s Championship because A’s team was competing. And for the next two weeks I’m in Italy! Yes, finally! We made it across the Atlantic to the country of pasta and aperitivos! This is a looooooooong overdue trip (it was originally scheduled in 2019) and I’m sooooo here for it! But since I’m eating and imbibing everything Italian, I wanted to bring you a couple classic cocktails that fit with that theme. The first is the Gin & It.
I know that may sound like a weird name for a cocktail, but when you hear the explanation, you’ll understand. This is a cocktail that’s super easy to make. It’s only 2 ingredients, and if you’re a fan of gin and/or sweet vermouth then you have to try it! The sweet vermouth is actually how the cocktail got its name. See, another name for sweet vermouth is Italian vermouth since most sweet vermouths come from Italy. Dry vermouth, on the other hand, is often referred to as French vermouth and is, as the name suggests, dry. It’s for that reason, the French is usually found in the classic martini. But since the Gin & It uses the Italian or sweet vermouth, this cocktail is often considered the sweet martini.
Like the classic dry martini, this drink also comes with a garnish. But while the dry martini is often served with either olives or a twist of lemon to go with the savory nature of that cocktail, the Gin & It is garnished with cherries to compliment its sweetness. Most recipes call for the overly sweet marachino, but if you want to class it up a bit and have a cocktail with more depth, I’d suggest Luxardo or brandied cherries. If you stick with Luxardo, you’ll be sticking with the theme since Luxardo is another Italian liqueur.
A wonderful aperitivo thanks to the vermouth, this drink dates back to to the late 1800’s when it was known as the Sweet Martini in watering holes around New York. The name was changed to the Gin & Italian during Prohibition and then shortened (as everything is eventually) to the Gin & It. Prohibition is also when the cocktail made its way across the pond since drinking was still allowed over there. While the cocktail has fallen out of favor thanks to the resurgence of the classic dry martini (both gin and vodka versions), if you’re a vermouth and/or aperitivo fan, you should give this drink a taste. It’s definitely a nice, sweet start to any meal, whether it be a simple Italian pasta or a classic steak.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
Instructions
- Pour both ingredients into a cocktail mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with 2 or 3 cherries and serve.
