There’s an innate indulgence interwoven through the concept of spring break; the same kind flooded through a midday siesta. That is, the indulgence of rest. A moment of stillness amidst a season well-regarded for life, energy and rebirth. What better way to toast to the first days of spring than with a beautifully crafted Martini — the drink writer E. B. White once called “the elixir of quietude” — mixed and shaken from your favourite Moët Hennessy Diageo spirits? Bar tools at the ready: Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong’s ‘The Home Bar’ series returns with an all-new cocktail recipe courtesy of mixologist extraordinaire Lorenzo Antinori, with notes taken from easy, breezy spring break afternoons.
Our host Lorenzo Antinori — Beverage Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Beverage Ambassador of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific and occasional Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong columnist — delivers his professional expertise from beyond the mysterious, moneyed depths of Four Seasons Hong Kong’s Caprice Bar. A bartender’s raison d’être behind every shaken-and-served tipple is the final execution; the presence of perfectly curated flavour — introduced, savoured and, most importantly, shared.
‘The Home Bar’ is a four-part video series of cocktail recipes by Lorenzo Antinori that will transform cheeky imbibers into spirit-slinging novice mixologists from the creature comforts of their own homes. Five-star libations, made approachable with at-home bar tools. Salute, from us to you!
Belvedere’s Spring Break Martini
The Spring Break Martini exemplifies a modern-day conundrum. A rapid-fire, high-impact, pre-batched execution tempered against Belvedere’s Polish traditionalism; slow and steady, six centuries in the making.
The seduction of a vodka Martini lies in its composition. The iconic thin-stemmed, conical glass; chilled and misty. A well-garnished swizzle stick. And, of course, the vodka. The stunning, made-with-nature purity of Belvedere — by way of heritage Polska rye, purified water and distillation by fire — steals the show in this pre-batched Lorenzo Antinori recipe; designed to be shared. One that serves from freezer drawer to ice-cold glasses in no time at all. One that might even tempt Mr. James Bond from his Vesper Martini.
Now, take a perfectly chilled sip. And another. One more after that.
Ingredients
| 350ml | Belvedere Vodka |
| 10ml | Apple cider vinegar |
| 100ml | Dry vermouth |
| 220ml | Green tea |
| Green olives garnish | |
| Pickled onions garnish |
Preparation
| Step 1: Place a measuring jug atop a scale. |
| Step 2: Pour in prepared portions of Belvedere Vodka, apple cider vinegar and dry vermouth. Dilute the solution with green tea. |
| Step 3: Strain the solution into an empty bottle. Freeze for two to three hours. |
| Step 4: Serve in a chilled Martini glass. |
| Step 5: Garnish with a skewer of pickled onions and green olives to taste. |
Please enjoy responsibly!
The Spring Break Martini (HK$160) is available for order at Four Seasons Hong Kong’s Caprice Bar from 12 April. 6/F, Four Seasons Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3196 8882
