Please do not let this come across that I am extremely young and naive, but there is only one person I know that comes over my house and has his own Gin hidden away, his Tipsy olives in the fridge and makes himself a Gibson, as if he is right at home. I am not complaining, I actually love that my friends come over, share their liquor and make their own drinks. Let’s me do other things - like hide the body part remains of the last unsolicited W.B. Mason sales person to my office…

My friend - let’s call him Barney Smith for reasons of anonymity - and the fact he has appeared on AMW. I kid with you. My friend Barney reminds me of my Dad - not because he is old - well, he sorta is, but that is not why he reminds me of my Dad. This drink reminds me of my youth, surrounded by adults that were so suave and cool at cocktail parties at the Country Club, all gussied up in their tuxes and gowns, elbow bent, in a supine wrist curl grasping a martini glass with nothing more than an onion (or two) in a glass which appeared no more lethal than pure unadulterated water swishing about. Until of course I tried some. H2O it was not. And I suddenly had a hot date with the porcelain pony. But, that was before.

It made me want to grow up and be just like them. Men laughing at some horrid joke about a fellow golfer, bulbous red-noses suffering from rosacea, bobbing through the crowd like an unanchored buoy in Narragansett Bay, a smoking Montecristo in the other hand and not even spilling one drop of the Gibson on the rug with the other hand, or on themselves. Wow, I thought, that Ted Kennedy can drink A LOT….and how nice of him to offer to drive my Mom home…

But, I digress. This martini is definitely of the ages, and is one of immense popularity to those who appreciate the history, the lore and quite simply, the essence of gin.

I like gin - I don’t drink it a lot - but I do like it. It has a rich history, and the fact they make it from juniper berries is truly amazing from my herbal medicinal side. And it reminds me of “the Empire” for good or bad, it definitely brings to the forefront the days of British colonial history, Rudyard Kipling, pith helmets and mongoose-cobra Kumite death matches. Wow - Jean Claude Van Damme reference from Bloodsport - 50 trivia points.

Here is one recipe for “The Famous Onion Pickler”:

Gin Gibson Martini

3 oz. Gin, preferably Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire
1/2 oz. Martini & Rossi Dry Vermouth
3 cocktail onions for garnish

Pour gin and vermouth into mixing glass. Add ice and stir to chill. Strain into a Swank Martini Glass and garnish.

I, dear reader, am cutting this baby short, because yours truly is having a big birthday day tomorrow, and I plan on having whatever, and however many martinis I can think of. And any that you can think of.

Alas, here is a wish on my birthday from me to you - comment on YOUR favorite drink, martini or not, and include a big “Hooray” to Ms. Leslie for making it another year. I have a lot to be thankful for - every day I breathe into my bathroom mirror and it fogs up….

I will leave you with what I believe is the best rendition of “Happy Birthday” ever…