The Best Cocktail you ever had and who made it for you

[gma]

It's called intoxication!

Yup, I'm sticking with that story too!!

[Richard Ruck]

Cocktail 1) The Martini.
Take a tumbler and squeeze a lemon peel around the rim of the glass so the zest is released but no juice
Dip the top 1/8 inch of the glass into caster sugar so you end up with a frosted rim
Drop a couple of ice cubes in the glass
Pour gin into the glass until it is three quarters full
Pour a dash of dry Martini - don't drown the gin! Drink it

I'd have to differ on this one, Robin - I don't think that ice cubes or sugar should be in the same room as a martini, let alone in the same glass!

The best one I had was in the American Bar at the Savoy - VERY chilled gin, so cold that it's a bit gloopy, a hint of vermouth (Noilly Prat), and that's about it. After 3 of those I asked the pianist if she knew "I've got a brand new combine harvester" - she didn't.

Has to be a good quality gin - my favourite's Plymouth at the moment.

A vodka martini's equally good,though, maybe with an olive.

[huntertitus]

I bow to your better judgement, Dick!

Actually when I make a martini at home it is much closer to your version

I always keep the gin in the freezer and then one doesn't have to water the thing down with ice

I was young when the martini described was made for me and the old vicar who made it was an iunforgettable character

He did the last rites with Winston Churchill and so heard his last words

He told me that what he heard was utterly surprising, but being a true gentleman, didn't divulge the secret to me

That and the amount of gin the man could put away gained my respect and admiration

P.S. I hear you are working in Wimbledon, so how about meeting up for that drink before we die?

(I hit a terrifyingly old age next week)

[englishangel]

ICE, SUGAR, How horrible. On my 39th birthday we were living in the USA and went out for dinner for my birthday and I had 3 dry martinis as an aperitif in a bar beforehand as the restaurant was a BYOB. of course these were american martinis, wave the vermouth over half a pint of gin, how my husband got me home I don't know.

[Vièr Bliu]

Pimm's - any Summer.

My favourite Cheat's Pimms recipe
1 part Triple Sec
1 part gin
2 parts red vermouth
over ice, top up with lemonade (cloudy) - add a sprig of mint

Now... the worst cocktail, there are some stories there.