Poets Dream
Ingredients
2oz London Dry Gin (Beefeater)
.75oz Dolin Vermouth Dry
.25oz Benedictine
2 Dashes orange bitters
*Lemon peel
The Poets Dream is not only very boozey, but very classic. Originally created in the 1930s Old Waldorf Astoria bar book, the recipe called for equal parts gin, dry vermouth, and benedictine. Overtime the cocktail recipe evolved and was slowly changed, in many books and bars, to a more classic martini construction.
This Poets Dream recipe feels like a herbaceous martini. The gin is more forward and the vermouth and benedectine bring a subtle complexity of herbs and spices. This is a relatively simple drink to make and a great recipe to have when someone orders a martini, but wants to try something “new.”
Recipe
1. Pour gin, vermouth, benedictine, and bitters with ice till cold.
2. Pour contents into chilled coupe.
3. Express lemon peel over drink.
4. Garnish with lemon.
Notes:
There are a few other ratios that I enjoyed as I was deciding what I enjoyed the best. The listed recipe feels the most balanced to me, but if you enjoy a slighter sweeter version of drinks… try adjusting to 2oz Gin, 1oz Dry vermouth, .5oz Benedictine, and 2 dashes orange bitters.