Drink Journal #4
The Opal Martini
2 oz gin
1 oz Cointreau
1 1/2 oz orange juice
orange zest
Like most of these drinks, shake it over ice and strain into a cocktail glass, then add the orange zest.
I have no idea who invented this, but I got it from the book "Martinis" by Ben Reed. It's a slightly bitter but well rounded drink that I'm fond of in the late evening. With all of these gin-heavy drinks, it's worth it to use a slightly better gin. I like Tanqueray; it's not too expensive, and it's a good step better than Seagrams, which is the other gin I keep on hand. Bombay Sapphire tastes significantly different, so give it a try in one of your favorite cocktails and make sure you like it before you invest in a bottle.