The Gibson

A sophisticated cocktail variation of the classic martini, featuring house-made pickled pearl onions. This recipe includes both the cocktail preparation and the pickling liquid for the onion garnish.

1 servings
168 hr 1 min

Ingredients

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 tablespoon juniper berries
  • teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • 1 pound small pearl onions
  • 2 ounces gin
  • ½ ounce blanc vermouth
  • ½ ounce dry vermouth
  • ¼ ounce onion pickling liquid
  • 4 cups ice
  • 1 piece pickled onion

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Whisk 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon juniper berries, 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 halved garlic clove, 1 bay leaf, and 1 1/4 cups water in a nonreactive container until salt and sugar dissolve. Add 1 pound small pearl onions, peeled, trimmed. Cover; chill at least 1 week and up to 3 months. Flavors will deepen with time.

    10080 min

  2. 2.

    Stir 2 ounces gin, 1/2 ounce blanc vermouth, 1/2 ounce dry vermouth, 1/4 ounce onion pickling liquid, and 4 cups ice in a large stirring or measuring glass 1 minute (this is key to rounding out the flavors). Strain into a martini glass; garnish with a pickled onion.

    1 min