Drinks with pungent pickled garnishes
February 9, 2011 2:00 AM Subscribe
If you wanted a martini (or other cocktail) with a garnish of a pickled garlic clove and/or a pickled tiny onion, what would you tell the bartender?
I'm specifically hoping for a common name of a drink, but if that doesn't exist, then what you would say to the bartender to get a martini with a garlic garnish? One with a garlic & onion combo garnish?
Also, is there any special name for the little stick/plastic sword that they stick the garnishes on?
I'm specifically hoping for a common name of a drink, but if that doesn't exist, then what you would say to the bartender to get a martini with a garlic garnish? One with a garlic & onion combo garnish?
Also, is there any special name for the little stick/plastic sword that they stick the garnishes on?
I would say "can I please have a little pickled onion and/or pickled garlic as garnish?". Maybe followed by "what would you call that in general?". But then I've always been kind of chatty and forward, and good bartenders either like it or pretend that they do (I don't care which).
posted by shelleycat at 2:38 AM on February 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by shelleycat at 2:38 AM on February 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
That's a Gibson.
"A dry martini will do."
"A martini. Dry. Veddy, veddy dry."
"Okay."
"Will you eat it with a spoon or a knife and fork?"
"Just cut it in strips," I said. "I'll just nibble it."
"On your way to school," he said. "Should I put the olive in a bag for you?"
"Sock me on the nose with it," I said. "If it will make you feel any better."
Raymond Chandler, The High Window
posted by Violet Hour at 2:57 AM on February 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
"A dry martini will do."
"A martini. Dry. Veddy, veddy dry."
"Okay."
"Will you eat it with a spoon or a knife and fork?"
"Just cut it in strips," I said. "I'll just nibble it."
"On your way to school," he said. "Should I put the olive in a bag for you?"
"Sock me on the nose with it," I said. "If it will make you feel any better."
Raymond Chandler, The High Window
posted by Violet Hour at 2:57 AM on February 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
Most bars that I've been at don't make many martinis that aren't specialty vodka martinis, so to be cautious it's best to tell them exactly what you want. So when I order I ask for a "gin martini, dirty, 2 olives" and answer any questions the bartender has from there.
posted by garlic at 6:09 AM on February 9, 2011
posted by garlic at 6:09 AM on February 9, 2011
Also, the little stick used in the cocktail is usually known as a "cocktail stick".
posted by hydatius at 7:03 AM on February 9, 2011
posted by hydatius at 7:03 AM on February 9, 2011
A sword pick would be a swizzle stick shaped like a sword, no?
I usually thin of a swizzle stick as a long stick designed for stirring, sometimes with a ball on the end. But Rokusan's link relieves me of that idea. So, what do you call the long stick with a ball on the end?
Gibson = martini with an onion instead of an olive. Rumored to be named after Somebody Gibson who wanted a drink that had no alcohol and asked the waiters to mark it with a onion. At least, that's the story I heard from my father.
posted by SLC Mom at 7:48 AM on February 9, 2011
I usually thin of a swizzle stick as a long stick designed for stirring, sometimes with a ball on the end. But Rokusan's link relieves me of that idea. So, what do you call the long stick with a ball on the end?
Gibson = martini with an onion instead of an olive. Rumored to be named after Somebody Gibson who wanted a drink that had no alcohol and asked the waiters to mark it with a onion. At least, that's the story I heard from my father.
posted by SLC Mom at 7:48 AM on February 9, 2011
You would tell the bartender "I would like a garnish of a pickled garlic clove and/or a pickled tiny onion". No need to be clever. Be prepared for a strange look if the drink is anything other than a martini, and I wouldn't count on them having the garlic.
Yes, technically a Gibson is a Martini with a pickled onion instead of an olive. I wouldn't count on many bartenders to know that. In the contemporary world where "martini" can also mean "vodka + Godiva liqueur + Goldschlager" or some such monstrosity, I find it's best to be specific.
posted by Nelson at 7:53 AM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yes, technically a Gibson is a Martini with a pickled onion instead of an olive. I wouldn't count on many bartenders to know that. In the contemporary world where "martini" can also mean "vodka + Godiva liqueur + Goldschlager" or some such monstrosity, I find it's best to be specific.
posted by Nelson at 7:53 AM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
If the stick is just a wooden cylinder, like a giant toothpick, it's a cocktail stick. If it's made of plastic, or fanciful, it's a swizzle stick. If it's an umbrella... it's an um... cocktail umbrella. Swizzle Sticks usually are longer as they go in a taller glass. They get their name from the Rum Swizzle.
The name of a martini with an onion is, of course, a Gibson. There doesn't seem to be a name for a garlic/onion combo or a martini with just garlic. There is a Garlic Martini, but that features garlic stuffed olives.
For the combo, I'd order a Garlic Gibson. For garlic by itself, I'd order a martini with garlic for garnish.
(And I've heard the other stores about the Gibson's origin, but I've also heard that the onion was originally to mark dry Martinis. Now that we all seem to prefer dry Martinis, it's really just a preference.)
posted by aristan at 8:41 AM on February 9, 2011
The name of a martini with an onion is, of course, a Gibson. There doesn't seem to be a name for a garlic/onion combo or a martini with just garlic. There is a Garlic Martini, but that features garlic stuffed olives.
For the combo, I'd order a Garlic Gibson. For garlic by itself, I'd order a martini with garlic for garnish.
(And I've heard the other stores about the Gibson's origin, but I've also heard that the onion was originally to mark dry Martinis. Now that we all seem to prefer dry Martinis, it's really just a preference.)
posted by aristan at 8:41 AM on February 9, 2011
But try a gin martini with a lemon twist.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 6:47 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by fivesavagepalms at 6:47 PM on February 9, 2011
My mom used to put lots of things (onion, olive, garlic, baby carrot, ect.) in her martini at the same time. She refered to it as a garbage-tini. Somehow I think that's probably not standard barkeep lingo though
posted by Redhush at 7:04 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by Redhush at 7:04 PM on February 9, 2011
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posted by AwkwardPause at 2:06 AM on February 9, 2011 [2 favorites]