Jazz & Cocktails

Eartha Kitt performing “C’est Si Bon” in 1962. I don’t speak a word of French so for all I know, she’s singing about thermal conductivity in covalent bonds.

But who cares? That voice. That look. That… Eartha. Yum. She could make the directions for burning toast sexy.

I’ve found YouTube videos of her in concert just months before she died at 81 and she Still. Had. IT.

Amazing woman.

For her, we need something icy cool with a French twist. So here’s a little something I invented called Martel’s Hammer.

You’ll need:

1.5 ounces Magellan French gin
1.5 ounces Grey Goose vodka
1 lemon twist
1 cornichon (it’s a tiny, sour French pickle)

Rub the lemon twist around the rim of your martini glass, then discard. Gently stir your gin and vodka over ice until well chilled, then strain into the glass. Garnish with the cornichon and — if you like them dirty — add an extra splash of the cornichon juice.

Here’s the one I just made.

I like to tell myself Eartha would approve.

Cheers.