The Gibson cocktail is a take on the classic gin Martini with one key change. It is garnished with a onion instead of an olive.
Gibson Martini – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
The precise origin of the Gibson is unclear with several tales claiming its creation. The one I like most is attributed to Charles Dana Gibson who challenged Charley Connolly, a bartender of the Players Club in New York City to improve on the Martini, so he swapped the olive for a onion and named it after his patron. To me, the story symbolises the spirit of hospitality.
The Gibson was first documented in The World’s Drinks And How To Mix Them by William Boothby in 1908. The ratio of gin to vermouth varies as does the number of cocktail onions. We like to our Gibson dry and made with No 3 London Dry Gin. The citrus notes of the gin work well with the residual pickled onion juice. For something a little different and vibrant, make it with Aviation Gin.
Gibson Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 60 ml dry gin such as No 3 London Dry Gin
- 7 ml dry /extra dry vermouth
Garnish: 3 cocktail onions
Glassware: Martini glass
Method
Stir all the ingredients over ice then strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with three cocktail onions.
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