CerebralDebris

Charlotte, my friend Gabe, and several others have noticed – and never fail to point out – that I get a disproportionate amount of pink drinks compared to the average, virile, testosterone-fueled man! I think the reason for this is because I tend to try cocktails with a lot of ingredients, rather than just “some liquor plus some soda” types. Or maybe it’s just because I’m a pansy … who knows?

Anyhoo … on a related note, I’ve come up with a new cocktail that I like quite a bit. Yes, it’s pink, but this isn’t some girly drink! There’s a lot of booze in this mutha, and it’s not super-sweet. In fact, it’s a really nice combination of lightly sweet and bitter, with some herbal notes. So here’s the recipe:

The Cloven Martini

1.5 oz Gin (I like Plymouth or Hendrick’s)
1.5 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
0.5 oz Framboise (Raspberry Liqueur)
3 whole cloves
ice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, and then shake the bejeezus out of them. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a lime wedge and a brandied cherry (a common Flatiron Lounge garnish).

Smells nice, tastes good … looks wussy, but dare your friends to slam a couple and see if they’re still standing!