T.G.I.F.

I thought that since I have a recipe listed each Monday {well in theory it's Monday} to kick off the week that it would be both fitting and fun to post a cocktail on Fridays to kick off the weekend.
I thought that starting off this weekly post with my favorite cocktail was the way to go, so without further ado I give you...

The Perfect Martini {according to moi}

Ingredients:

Ice
good quality vodka or gin {I always use either CÎROC vodka or 12 Bridges Gin

1 cap full of chilled Vermouth {it's perishable so it should be in your fridge}

Castelvetrano olives {this is important - do NOT use any other kind of olive, especially the nasty regular green olives with the pimento stuffed in them. If you cant find Castelvetrano then use lemon peel instead}

Directions:

1. Chill 2 martini glasses, booze, & shaker in the freezer {we always just keep a shaker & vodka or gin in the freezer}.

2. Fill your chilled shaker with ice {depending on size this should be at least 7 cubes}.

3. Put the ice in the shaker and then pour in the vermouth. You want not only to coat the bottom of the shaker, but the ice as well. Give it a swirl, and then out it goes, right down the drain. Now, it’s not necessary to shake it to death. A drop or two of vermouth is in proper proportion.

4. Pour 6 ounces of the vodka/gin into the shaker. At this point, it depends what type of container is in use. If it’s a glass shaker, you stir. If it’s a metal one, you swirl, in a semi-vigorous manner, but not violently. You want the ice friction to cause a chain reaction of cold, but you don’t want to bruise the gin/vodka. Gin/vodka needs to be gently introduced to the vermouth, and there MUST be some ice melt dilution. So, swirl, or stir, depending.

5. Pour the contents from the shaker into the two very chilled martini glasses.

6. Garnish with three olives & enjoy.

*Note: served best with Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits