THE TEMPLES OF THE COCKTAIL MARTINI

A very, very personal Martini

A perfect Martini is, like a classic Bristol, a very private experience. One can savour an excellent one in the best watering holes of the planet, but the best of them all will be the one that the real enthusiast mixes for himself (or, exceptionally, for one close friend) in the soothing ambience of his own house, choosing the right glass as well as the best gin or the quality of the olive without any hurry, for the pleasure of making it as much as for the experience of tasting it.

When you have mixed a perfect Martini with the right components (now my favourite gin is the 46,5% 'Westbourne Strength' Martin Miller's, whilst for the vodka I prefer the russian Imperia), the music that you will listen to will be very important, and the reproduction system must be of the same high quality as your 'personal' Martini. Only the best vinyl machine will do: a 'BBC' EMT 950 and its natural companion, the TSD 15 Tondose, are a natural choice to listen to legendary J.S. Bach Weihnachtsoratorium directed by Karl Richter on a classic Archiv 12". To keep a sober, German-oriented flavor in this surround, the Martini will be poured in a crystal WMF stem glass. The other links of the reproduction system will remain a very private affair, of course