Celebrate “National Martini Day”

 Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels Celebrate “National Martini Day”

The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, June 2014 …  It’s shaken or stirred, dry or dirty, blue with Curacao and green with apples. Garnished with stuffed olives, pickled onions, lemon twists, mint leaves, or jalapeño peppers and served in a frosted glass, it’s a silvery beacon atop the bar.  It’s the stuff of film legend.  Who could forget James Bond’s suave and specific commands for the perfect concoction, or MadMen Don Draper and Roger Sterling downing three or more at lunch?   Mrs. Robinson’s iconic leg shot with her cocktail glass in hand defined The Graduate.  It’s the drink of statesmen and literary lions.  FDR toasted the end of Prohibition with newly legal gin while Ernest Hemingway celebrated the liberation of Paris by marching into the Ritz Bar and ordering several rounds of the King of Cocktails - The Martini.  This week, the legendary libation is celebrated across America on June 19^th, National Martini Day.

The Martini has evolved from its 1950s incarnation of gin, vermouth and an olive, as innovative barkeeps create intoxicating new takes on the All American cocktail.  Increasingly, high quality vodka takes the place of gin. Bars and restaurants at Benchmark Resorts & Hotels® andPersonal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® brands, offer both the timeless and traditional version, plus some spirited new drinks that reflect local flavors and serve as the perfect prelude to fabulous fare.

Seattle – Sorrento Hotel

For 30 years, Seattle’s gracious Sorrento Hotel, has sat atop First Hill, offering traditional European elegance and luxury. The Hunt Club and the cozy Fireside Room draw both guests and savvy Seattle residents for an array of cocktails, including this ruby red Beet Martini.

Just Beet It Martini

1.5 oz Citrus Vodka

.5 oz Fresh Beet Juice

.25 oz Domaine De Canton Ginger Liquor

Top with Cucumber Dry Soda

Garnish with Cucumber Wedge

Washington State Wine Country – Willows Lodge

Set in Washington State Wine Country, Willows Lodge is a spectacular and scenic retreat, renowned for its award-winning restaurant, The Barking Frog. With soccer fever running high, Willows Lodge offers The World Cup Martini that gives new meaning to the term, “Going for the Gold."

World Cup Martini

2 Oz. – Tito’s Vodka

.75 oz. – St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur

5 leaves of fresh mint

1 cucumber wedge

Dash of gold dust (use sparingly!)

Martini Glass

Prep: Take a dry (non-chilled) martini glass, and gentle run the rim of the glass through the gold dust. Again, use sparingly.. a little goes a long way. Tap the glass a few times to remove excess gold dust.

Drink: Dry muddle mint and cucumber wedge, add ice, vodka a
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