Stirred not shaken. Yes, you read that correctly. Mr Bond would shudder at the thought of it, but we think our alcohol-free sec Martini could open up a whole new world to him. Not just the world of the stirred Martini, but the possibility of consuming such an iconic cocktail with absolutely none of the alcohol content. Let's take a look at the story behind Wilfred's Alcohol-Free Sec Martini, food pairings that work well and of course, how to make it.
The Story Behind WILFRED'S ALCOHOL-FREE SEC MARTINI
Our Sec Martini is a classic cocktail, best sipped at the Casino Royale poker table… but it's great to enjoy at home too! Traditionally, Martinis were made using dry gin and dry vermouth. It goes without saying that these ingredients are not conducive to being on top of your game the next day. Luckily, Martinis have evolved and even improved over the years. Not least with the recent development of the Wilfred's Alcohol-Free Sec Martini.
These days, simplicity is the key ingredient when it comes to a Martini. Known for their elegance and sophistication, this is a drink best served chilled and made with the finest available ingredients. Our non-alcoholic version contains the fresh juices of three fruits, a dash of Angostura bitters and of course, a generous serving of Wilfred's alcohol-free aperitif.
The history of the MARTINI
Iconic Martinis are thought to date back to the Californian gold rush of the 1800s. Legend has it that a miner from Martinez was celebrating finding a significant amount of gold. When the bar had no Champagne, the bar tender knocked a cocktail together instead. The use of gin, vermouth, liquor, lemon and bitters was clearly a hit because those present asked for it to be replicated elsewhere. It became known as a "Martinez Special", later shortened to a Martini.
Since then, various different versions have developed. In fact, a whole glossary of vocabulary is dedicated to the drink. Let's take a look at a few familiar terms, there are a few you might not have heard of too.
- Shaken: You may be surprised to learn that James Bond's take on a Martini, shaking it in a cocktail shaker, makes it more diluted.
- Stirred: Wilfred's Alcohol-Free Sec Martini is stirred gently to chill your drink without diluting it with the ice.
- Sec: Citrussy or bitter, containing sharp flavours for a zingy taste sensation.
- On the rocks: Poured over ice to serve.
- Straight up: Strained before serving to remove the ice.
- Thrown: Pouring from one tumbler to another from a height prior to serving to release flavours of the botanicals and aromatics.
- Dirty: You've probably heard of a dirty Martini, but did you know that it contains olive brine? It's usually served with an olive to garnish as well.
- With a twist: Garnished with a twist of citrus peel.
Each distinct take on a Martini has its own preferred garnish too, with everything from fruit to pickled onions making an appearance on the list. You'll be pleased to hear that our Wilfred's Alcohol-Free Sec Martini opts for a Maraschino cherry garnish. So, there's no need to rush out for pickled onions!
Food Pairings for WILFRED'S ALCOHOL-FREE SEC MARTINI
Being non-alcoholic, our Wilfred's Sec Martini is ideal for drinking with a meal. Which course you decide to serve it with will depend on what other beverages will be on offer. Do check out our other alcohol-free cocktail recipes for a few more ideas. In the meantime, we've got a few food pairings for each course that will work well with your delicious Martini.
Starters
The citrusy freshness of a sec Martini lends itself to pairing with any white fish starters. As a vegetarian and vegan alternative, consider a quinoa salad with orange and pomegranate.
Mains
Jamie Oliver suggests pairing a Martini with his popular pasta salad. This works well as a light meal or side dish. A red cabbage frittata is a great option too, its lemon and herb flavourings pair well with the sec Martini.
Desserts
Bitter dessert flavours work better with a sec Martini than ultra-rich flavours like chocolate or caramel. Think lemon tart, cranberry and orange muffins or a classic lemon drizzle cake.
How to make WILFRED'S ALCOHOL-FREE SEC MARTINI
Alcohol content
0.0%
Ingredients
- 75 ml - Wilfred’s Aperitif
- 50 ml - Fresh Cranberry
- 25 ml - Fresh Grapefruit
- 15 ml - Freshly squeezed lime
- 1 dash of Angostura Bitters
- Ice
To Garnish:
- One Maraschino cherry
Method
- Add all ingredients to a glass or cocktail shaker with ice.
- Stir gently
- To serve, strain out the ice and serve "straight up".
- Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.
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