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When chef Sean Brock opened his bastion of traditional high quality eating, The Continental, in Nashville in 2021, he heralded a brand new period of appreciation for a sure classic American type of eating. Meaning signature dishes like prime rib carved tableside, pâté en croûte, and caviar, plus oysters Continental, a menu merchandise that Brock hopes will be a part of the canon of classics like oysters Rockefeller and crab Louie. It’s an bold restaurant from an bold chef looking for to cement his place in America’s high quality eating historical past books.
The cocktail program is constructed to match, with a number of classics which were upgraded to Brock and bar director Johnathan Howard’s very distinctive specs. For instance, a superbly clear “soiled” martini is among the cocktail program’s stars, combining vodka, vermouth, salt, and olive distillates (olive juice that has gone for a spin in a centrifuge within the chef’s high-tech culinary lab). The drink is served in a coupe, ice-cold from the freezer.
With all this in thoughts, Brock and Howard are introducing one other part to the expertise on the Continental: The Vesper Membership, which presents a martini tasting menu within the restaurant’s lounge.
“I at all times stated from the primary second that I wish to make this bar the American model of [the American Bar in] the Savoy in London,” says Howard. “If you consider the martini on this nation, I would like it to be synonymous with The Continental in Nashville, Tennessee.” The idea developed over time, he says. “Initially we’d deliberate an entire different cocktail expertise, however then at some point on the bar at Audrey [Brock’s other new restaurant], Sean handed me a Waldorf Astoria cocktail guide. I opened it to the the Opera cocktail, which I really like.” The retro, spirit-forward recipe sparked an concept, and in that second the duo determined to make the bar on the Continental an ode to that type of cocktails, particularly martinis.
For a bar to focus solely on variations of 1 drink is a giant endeavor, significantly when it’s a beloved traditional that’s very open to interpretation. “Loads of drinkers are paying shut consideration to the traditional cocktails they’ve been taking without any consideration,” says cocktail author Camper English. “We’ve needed to relearn what traditional cocktails are of their unique format after years of consuming chilly vodka in a V-shaped glass and calling it a martini.”
The Vesper Membership tasting expertise is centered round 5 small martinis served in classic glassware, every one clocking in at round one and a half ounces. The flight is designed with enjoyment—not overindulgence—in thoughts, says Howard. “I would like this to be one thing individuals can do earlier than dinner. The purpose is to let it reverberate on the palate, adopted by a chunk of caviar, then one other sip of martini to complete it.”
There’s additionally an academic part in thoughts, Howard says. And there’s loads to know: The history of the martini begins in Gold Rush-era California in accordance with most accounts. However wherever that first chilly cocktail was poured, it has garnered a wealthy historical past ever since, coming to large-scale reputation within the Sixties, because of Mr. Bond, who most popular his martini shaken, not stirred—a drink order that will go on to comb the world. (Of observe: The bar’s identify is a reference to a martini variation created by none aside from 007’s creator, Ian Fleming in On line casino Royale, the Vesper.) Customizing one’s personal martini order stays widespread: shaken or stirred, dry or soiled, vodka or gin, and extra.
Finally, the cocktail menu at The Continental will provide round twelve to fifteen completely different martinis. The Vesper Membership’s tasting is a chance for friends to alleviate themselves of the burden of selection, in addition to to be taught one thing new a couple of drink they’ve presumably had numerous occasions earlier than.
“I believe by placing a number of variations on the menu you’re drawing consideration to an entire class versus having one signature martini,” says English. “In any other case individuals may skip that and simply order it how they order it.”
The Vesper Club is taking the class and working with it, in accordance with the menu. The primary spirits, at the very least on the opening menu, are vodka and gin with an intriguing roster of different vermouths, fortified wines, and elements like plum vinegar. One instance combines Wodka Vodka with Carpano Bianco Vermouth, oloroso sherry distillate, and pistachio, paired with Siberian sturgeon caviar from Poland. Sake, walnut oil, absinthe, and extra make appearances, too. So overlook your “go-to” order and settle in for 5 ingenious martinis that may change the definition of the traditional cocktail, and presumably even cement their very own locations in cocktail historical past books.
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