Skip to main content

The Gibson

3.3

(3)

Image may contain Drink Cocktail Alcohol Beverage and Martini
Photo by Alex Lau.

This version of the classic martini variation relies on gin, blanc vermouth, dry vermouth, and onion pickling liquid. The trickiest part of the recipe is preparing the pickled onions that are added as a garnish, but the effort is well worth it. 

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 drinks

Ingredients

For the pickled onions:

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon juniper berries
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 halved garlic clove
1 bay leaf
1 pound small pearl onions, peeled, trimmed

For the martini:

2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce blanc vermouth
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
1/4 ounce onion pickling liquid
4 cups ice
Pickled onion for garnish

Preparation

  1. For the pickled onions:

    Step 1

    Whisk 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon juniper berries, 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 halved garlic clove, 1 bay leaf, and 1 1/4 cups water in a nonreactive container until salt and sugar dissolve. Add 1 pound small pearl onions, peeled, trimmed. Cover; chill at least 1 week and up to 3 months. Flavors will deepen with time.

  2. For the martini:

    Step 2

    Stir 2 ounces gin, 1/2 ounce blanc vermouth, 1/2 ounce dry vermouth, 1/4 ounce onion pickling liquid, and 4 cups ice in a large stirring or measuring glass 1 minute (this is key to rounding out the flavors). Strain into a martini glass; garnish with a pickled onion.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
The kimchi brine is the secret hero here; just a splash of it brightens the cocktail while deepening it with a little funky je ne sais quoi.
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
Crème de violette is an exuberantly floral violet liqueur that gives vibrant color to this fun frozen cocktail.
Bring in the cheer with this ruby red drink made with apple brandy, hot cider, cranberry, and plenty of warm spice.
Easy to make, impossible to stop eating.
Blend frozen mango, blanco tequila, and lime juice into these cooling margaritas. A Tajín rim adds a spicy-salty kick.
A short list of ingredients comes together in this elegant sake martini.
Developed in the 1980s by a chef in Hong Kong, this sauce is all about umami.