What’s your [insert beverage of choice] ritual?

As established, 5pm is cocktail hour.

Though some days we open early and cocktail hour is like... 1.30.  And lasts for about 9 hours.

Cocktails of choice are martinis. Martinis are smooth and sweet and sharp and comforting.  They bite and they kick, but they calm and they soothe. A well-mixed martini excites, even as it relaxes. They dance on your tongue, and give you that warm glow when you swallow and good grief I‘m beginning to sound like an alcoholic.

But it’s true. They are relaxing. They have a proper kick, but then they slide down so sensually and massage you from the inside and all the way down.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY VARIETIES!

Classic vodka and classic gin martinis we save for special occasions- they DESTROY your brain because they’re just so damn boozy. Delicious, but not to be trifled with. You have to want to get a bit wasted to start on those. So on an average cocktail hour we go for softer options with a bit of mixer thrown in. Cranberry martinis, appletinis, strawberry, etc, etc- you get the idea.

And my own creation which has proven amazingly popular with guests – Mango and Honey Martinis.

These are like sex in a glass. People now request them when they turn up, which I kind of like.

But the ritual? My fastest mix is cranberry... because we make them all the time, and because I always end up spending all night making cocktails whenever we have a party; I’ve become insanely fast. Just over one minute for two glasses. So here goes...

Glug of vodka (no time for shot glasses or measures) into each martini glass. 
Glug of vermouth in each.  (No time to watch closely... pour by timbre)
Two glugs of cranberry in each.
Tip the contents of both into a shaker (or a Hawthorn, though that adds precious seconds and your favourite song is *obviously* playing).
Chuck in 4 ice cubes.
Press the top on, then the cap last, otherwise it won’t seal properly.
Shake it in two hands, holding the top on, just in case, until it makes that pleasing noise and the ice is broken down a bit.
Tap the top to clear the strainer so you don’t lose any when you pop it.
Pop the cap.
Pour, splitting evenly between the two glasses.
Crack the top and pour in the foam. The foam is the best bit. Try not to get the ice in.
Drink.

And yes, the shaking IS important. It’s totally obvious when you’ve stirred. It doesn’t blend the same way; you don’t get the foam and it hasn’t got the silky quality.

There you go.  My one-minute martini ritual.