Holiday weekends—particularly the summery ones—are often associated with barbecues and beer. I am always down to eat some barbecue, but beer makes me sneeze, and I don’t see why I should change my drinking habits for one long weekend.
But a martini—my most oft-consumed drink—is not very sunshine-y. In fact, I drink most of mine sitting in dark bars, trying to avoid small talk centered around my tattoos. In terms of martini mods, most additions tend to be salty (as in dirty) or even more boozy (as in the vodka-y vesper). To make mine just a little brighter, I decided to add a bit of my favorite cherry-ish liqueur—Luxardo maraschino.
To be clear, I am not recommending you chug these all weekend. Though it’s a friendlier, more inviting martini, it’s still a martini, and you should at least alternate with cans of La Croix. To make this fruity, boozy beverage, you will need:
2 1/4 ounces dry gin
3/4 ounce dry vermouth
1/4 ounce Luxardo maraschino liqueur
Pour everything into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until the glass is very, very cold. Strain into a coupe, enjoy at a leisurely pace, then chase with something hydrating. Repeat as needed throughout the long weekend.