So yer gal, sport that she is, volunteers to hit the Liquor Barn & pick up the refreshments for the evening . . . and shows up a little later, a grin splitting her face, waving a bottle of tequila and some margarita mix, and heads straight for the blender. What'cha gonna do? Don't panic, pal, just reach for the vermouth . . . .
TEQUILA MARTINI
2 ½ ounces tequila (preferably white, but remember, you didn't have a choice in the matter).
1 ½ teaspoons dry vermouth
lemon twist or olive (or, better yet, lemon peel stuffed olive)
Fill a mixing glass half full of ice cubes, mix the tequila and vermouth, stir thoroughly. Strain into cocktail glass, garnish as you see fit. Mmm, mmm! Taste the desert!
Of course, all macabre martini variations you have fetishised can apply to this as well. One recommended variation: pour the vermouth into the cocktail glass, thoroughly coat the inside of the glass, discard the vermouth, pour the tequila into the glass, garnish. Recommended listening: Giant Sand, or any of the various solo albums or spin off groups (Calexico, Friends of Dean Martinez). This recipe was honed whilst I enjoyed Howe Gelb's The Listener CD. I think the album builds very nicely to the end, and the tequila martinis are tellin' me I'm not a liar.
[Bill]
