The Fountain of Youth?

As I was reading through my online New York Times today, I stumbled across an article of perhaps incalculable importance.  This article may serve to revolutionize the way readers come to regard this blog.  Please read the article presented below carefully, as the implications are far-reaching and profound.  Could it be that I have accidentally stumbled upon the "Fountain of Youth"?  Potentially, yes.  And if I am wrong?  Who cares. 
 

Prevention: Beer and Martinis: As Healthy as Wine?

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

Published: December 26, 2011

Many studies have found an association between the moderate consumption of alcohol and increased longevity, and some have found evidence that wine has a more beneficial effect than other alcoholic drinks.

Now an analysis in the January issue of The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs suggests that martinis [emphasis added] and beer may be just as effective at extending life. Wine may have appeared to be better only because the people who choose it are generally healthier.
Researchers studied 802 men and women ages 55 to 65: 281 low-wine drinkers who consumed less than one-third of their alcohol as wine, 176 high-wine drinkers who consumed two-thirds or more as wine, and 345 abstainers. The drinkers had one to two drinks per day, and researchers followed them for 20 years.

Wine drinkers lived longer than abstainers, and high-wine drinkers longer than low-wine drinkers. But compared with high-wine drinkers, low-wine drinkers were more likely to be older men, to be less active physically, to smoke and to be of lower socioeconomic status. After controlling for these factors, the difference between the two groups of moderate drinkers disappeared.

The lead author, Charles Holahan, a psychologist at the University of Texas, said there may be benefits for older moderate drinkers no matter what kind of alcohol they consume. Still, he added, “The study does not encourage initiating wine consumption as a pathway to better health.”

Smith & Wollesnky, 49th Street and Third Avenue, New York, New York

On December 5, 2011, I met an old friend for dinner and drinks at the world renowned Smith & Wollensky restaurant.  We actually started our evening in the ground level bar.  S&W was a favorite haunt of mine, my colleagues, and my clients years ago, but has been has been a less frequented watering hole over the last four or five years for reasons that I cannot for the life of me remember.

The bar, today as in the past, is crowded, loud, well stocked, and reminiscent of great "manly" steakhouse bars.

After fighting our way to the bar, which is a prerequisite for even placing a drink order, I ordered my usual.

The bartender, a fixture at this location that I immediately recognized from years past, did an outstanding job of chilling the glass and chilling the vodka to an incredibly cold temperature.  The shaking was quick and less than my expectation.  That being said, the martini arrived with abundant ice crystals, a true spanish olive, and a surprising number of tiny air bubble still suspended in the mixture.

Although one generally spills up to a quarter of one's drink moving away from the S&W bar with a drink, I managed to salvage the vast bulk of my drink.   My cocktail was generously proportioned, refreshing, and tasty.  An excellent cocktail expertly prepared in spite of the limited shaking.

S&W, I give your martini a 9.5 out of 10.  Keep up the good work.  I will back and promise not to be a stranger.

LinkedIn's Greatest Contribution

The following is a poll found on LinkedIn on November 28, 2011.  The data is invaluable.  Ladies, Gentlemen, keep up the good work and carry on.  Fascinating.

Ristorante Saraceno, Boston's North End

Last weekend, my family and I headed to Boston for a quick break before the frenzy of the school year dominates our lives.  During our visit, we made our way to Boston's North End, a mecca of high quality traditional Italian food, to a restaurant named Ristorante Saraceno.  The facility itself, located in what appears to be a hodge-podge of two (or three?) adjacent, but non-connected, buildings, is unimpressive, but the food is very good.

As usual, I took the opportunity to order my signature martini.  I had great expectations.  While the food impressed, the martini did not.   It arrived somewhat cold and maybe shaken, and the vodka had been watered down to what I can only describe as "essence of vodka", it was there, but almost imperceptibly. 

Well, live and learn.  I give the martini at Ristorante Saraceno a 2 of 10.  Unfortunately, my worst rating to date.

Mike's Bistro, 228 West 72nd Street, New York City

Last evening I had a wonderful dinner with family at Mike's Bistro.  Mike's is a Kosher steak house with a wide variety of outstanding  beef, duck, veal, and lamb dishes.   The restaurant is roomy and upon entry you are greeted by a spectacular traditional bar displaying all of the ingredients necessary to assure that virtually any cocktail was available.   The decor is best described as "New York Steak House Lite".   The short ribs off the bone are, incidentally, divinely inspired.  

As a Kosher diner, I feel free to say that Kosher restaurants RARELY provide cocktails which are "up to  snuff".  Mike's, however, does not disappoint.  My martini was freshly shaken, clearly vigorously given the abundant bubbles and ice crystals still swirling in my glass when it arrived, and quickly delivered.  The olives were crisp and tasty, not at all soggy.  Outstanding.  My one criticism, if I can give any, is that the martini was on the small side, not so small so as to detract from its excellence, but on the small side given that the martini is one of the more expensive cocktails regularly ordered.

I would rate the Mike's Bistro martini a 9.5 out of 10.  Keep up the good work.  I will be back.

Cheers.

Madison Club Lounge at The Roosevelt Hotel, 45th Street and Madison Avenue, New York, New York

Last evening a colleague and I met a client and strategic partner of ours at the Madison Club Lounge at The Roosevelt Hotel.  The entry to the hotel is spectacular and conjures images of the 1920's.  Very high ceilings, incredible details, and beautiful architectural features adorn the spacious lobby.  As you enter, the Lobby Lounge can be seen atop a flight of stairs on the left. 

The hotel describes the Madison Club Lounge as follows:

"With the quintessential ambience of a classic, old-school New York City hotel lounge, the Madison Club Lounge's rich mahogany paneling, stained glass windows and deep cushioned leather chairs make a relaxed and comfortable setting for casual conversation and meeting business acquaintances."

The Lounge was not overly crowded when we arrived and settled in to sample their martinis.  One drink later, however, the place was hopping with tourists, business people, and others looking to socialize. 

I have heard many friends offer high praise of the martinis at the Madison Club.  As a result my expectations were very high.

Our waiter was experienced and asked the right questions.  My martini was delivered promptly, was ice cold, and still had bubbles and ice crystals from its vigorous shaking.  The olives were fresh and, best of all, not squishy.  In a word, excellent. 

The Madison Club martini deserves a 10 of 10 and gets especially high marks for the quick delivery of my incredibly freshly shaken cocktail.

Cheers.

Luksusowa

Luksusowa (Wódka Luksusowa) is a Polish brand of vodka distilled from potatoes by Pernod Ricard (formerly V&S Luksusowa) in Zielona Góra. Wódka Luksusowa (Polish for Luxury Vodka) is one of the oldest Polish vodkas in continuous production, being first sold in 1928. When Polish territory expanded westwards after World War II, the production of Luksusowa was moved to its current site in Zielona Góra. According to the producer, Luksusowa has approximately 10% share in Poland's vodka market.

Luksusowa is among my favorite vodkas. It is smooth, even among potato vodkas, but does not sacrifice its “bite”. It is my home martini vodka of choice.

Spiritsreview.com states as follows:

“Notes: Luksusowa (Polish for Luxury) Vodka is produced in Poland by Polmos from strobrowa potatoes . Distilled in a triple distilled then filtered through charcoal (the best traditional vodka filtration).

“This is one of the few vodkas made with potatoes - which contrary to popular prejudice (particularly vociferous among Russians for some reason) - is a premium ingredient for vodka. With about 1/3 less yield per kilo and a lot more prep work to ferment and distill, it makes for a difficult and expensive undertaking. Also people who suffer from Celiac's Disease (a genetic intolerance to gluten found in grains) will find this a welcome addition to the kinds of distilled spirits they can drink.

“Appearance: Crystal clear, no sediment whatsoever. On swirling, it leaves a thin clear coat on the inside of the glass forming a crenellated edge with some legs and lots of small droplets - this seems to be a familiar pattern with potato vodka. A crystal clear viscous pool in the glass.
First Impression: A slightly sweet smell to it, slight alkaline (cocoa?) smell (could be because it is a member of a alkali plant family). Rounder, deeper smell than a grain vodka. No smell of esters or oils; clean.

"Taste: Sweet and slightly oily on the tongue, medium body. Crisp, mild bite to it on the edges of your tongue. A slight warming of alcohol as it goes down the throat, with lingering warmth and tingle to the lips. Chilling accentuates the sweetness and body.

. . .

"Final Thoughts: An good value for the money - One of the few potato vodkas out there and one that does no charge an arm and a leg . Many Poles consider this an "Old style vodka" - that's fine with me. It's not fancy, but a good solid vodka with a nice mouthfeel and taste."

I find Luksusowa an outstanding vodka, a great contributor to any good martini, and, ironically, a bargain. Its impossible to make a bad martini with Luksusowa.

Cheers.

How To Order A Martini

At the request of a few friends who told me in confidence that, although they drink martinis at home, they never order martinis when in a restaurant or lounge for fear of embarrassing themselves (and you know who you are) by incorrectly ordering, I recommend ordering a vodka martini as follows (omit all language between brackets when ordering):

"[BRAND OF VODKA (e.g., Kettle, Luksosowa, Grey Goose, etc.)] martini, up, shaken, no vermouth, three olives".  One can substitute a "twist" (e.g., lemon twist) for olives, if desired, and can request that the martini be "dirty" (e.g., add a bit of olive juice to the cocktail).

What does it all mean?

          [BRAND OF VODKA (e.g., Kettle, Luksosowa, Grey Goose, etc.)] martini = martini with my choice of vodka

          shaken = I want the vodka cold and oxygenated, preferably with small bubbles and ice crystals still swirling through the mix

          up = no ice

          no vermouth = bone dry (e.g., not sweet)

        three olives (alternatively, a twist) = I want to add an essence of another flavor to this drink, but still retain its purity and sophistication

          dirty = I want the olive juice added to my cocktail to provide additional olive flavor and salt.  By the way, do not request a "dirty" martini with a twist - its simply gross.

I hope that this will make my bashful friends a bit more comfortable.

Cheers.

The Mark, 77th Street and Madison Avenue, New York, New York

I had the opportunity yesterday afternoon to attend a meeting in the lounge at The Mark, a beautiful upscale Manhattan Hotel.  The lounge is small, but very chic and inviting, and the decor, from the cowhide seating to the irregularly shaped tables, provokes conversation.

A more colorful cast of characters is difficult to imagine, especially since many of the glitterati were present en route to a nearby formal event at the Met.

After greeting my friends and clients, I, of course, ordered my usual.   My martini was served in a glass that seemed to be the offspring of a martini glass and a champagne glass, which usually arouses suspicion.  I was very pleasantly surprised; the martini was reasonably well shaken, crisp, and refreshing. The olives were fresh and tasty.   My only critique would be my preference for extremely well shaken martinis which are more icy than crisp.  Notwithstanding these critiques, I would rate the martini at The Mark 8 of 10, a very respectable rating, and I would rate the decor (which I do very seldomly) a 9.5 of 10 for interest and conversation provocation.

Cheers.

San Martin, 143 East 49th Street, New York, New York

San Martin is an excellent casual italian restaurant on 49th Street, between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue, in New York City.  Upon entry, you are standing in the bar, which, although small, tends to have more than its share of colorful characters.  The staff is extremely friendly and helpful.  The scent of fine expertly prepared dishes fills the room.

San Martin takes great pride in its martinis, as well as everything else.  When I ordered my regular (Ketel One martini, up, three olives, no vermouth), Carlos, the bartender, chilled the glass to a frostly perfection, poured the Ketel One vodka into a tall glass full of ice, and used a long spoon to manually and aggressively stir the contents to its optimal icy cold temperature.

Needless to say, the martini was fantastic and rates a 10 of 10.  Great job, Carlos.

I want to thank Roberto and Jeb for introducing me to San Martin and for making this venue one of our regular meeting spots.

Cheers

If You Want Vodka In the Worst Possible Way . . .

While on a recent family visit in the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area, I went to a local liquor store to pick up martini supplies.  As I prefer potato vodkas, of which I find very few, I was pleased to find a brand with respect to which I had no familiarity.  The vodka, an Austrian vodka named Vodka Monopolowa, comes in an unadorned bottle with an off-white label and dark blue simple lettering.

One sample is all it takes . . . this stuff will thin paint, remove rust, remove hair, and clean drains.  Under no circumstances should anyone, anyplace, at any time, attempt to consume this diesel derivative.  I am surprised that my martini glass didn't dissolve upon contact.

In short, if you want vodka in the worst possible way, try Vodka Monopolowa.

The National, 557 Lexington Avenue New York, New York

The National is located between 50th and 51st Streets in Manhattan.  The location is great and ambiance is warm, easily lending the bar to leisurely after-work cocktails.   I have always found the salads particularly good.

A partner of mine at New World Merchant Partners and I recently found ourselves at the bar and ordered my standard martini.  He ordered the same, but with a twist in the place of olives.  I found the martinis small, especially for the price, marginally shaken, not quite cold enough, and frankly a bit watered down, at least in flavor.  My partner would not have provided as favorable a description.

I would rate the martinis at The National a 4 of 10 - not undrinkable, but not nearly as pleasurable an experience as I have come to expect, especially for one of the pricier cocktails.

Cheers.

W Hotel, 49th and Lexington, New York, New York

Besides being one of my most frequent business haunts, having exceptional facilities, and having an amazing staff, the W Hotel at 49th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan makes a spectacular martini based upon our control criteria.  I have had the pleasure of consuming these perfect martinis in the W's Heartbeat Restaurant and Lounge (Thank you, Pete and Tang), in the Living Room Lounge (Thank you Maria), and in Whiskey Blue, the upscale trendy bar (Thank you everyone  ;-)).

Martinis at the W have that "certain something", are shaken to perfection with swirling tiny bubbles and ice crystals, are not contaminated with vermouth, and are served a few degrees above absolute zero.  The glass will, on occasion, actually frost, not from the chilling of the glass, but from the beverage.

To boot, the martinis at the W have been super-sized for your pleasure.

Accordingly, the W is our first winner with a 10 of 10.  I highly recommend the location and the drink.

Cheers.

The Control

In order to ensure that my rating system has a degree of consistency and objectivity, I am using a control:

Ketel One Vodka
Up
No Vermouth
Three Olives (fewer if larger olives are used)
Shaken, Not Stirred.

I may comment on non-control martinis, as well, but in order to determine relative quality, I believe that the objectivity provided by a "control" will be beneficial to our ultimate results.  Or, I may just be angling to try more martinis.

Objective

My name is Robert Steven Brown and I am a founder and Managing Director of New World Merchant Partners LLC.  Throughout my business and personal life I have had the distinct pleasure of sampling, sometimes to excess, vodka martinis. The objective of this blog is to catalogue and rate the vodka martini served at the numerous establishments at which I have had the opportunity to partake.   Please feel free to offer your comments, good, bad, appropriate, inappropriate, or otherwise.  I promise you that I shall take no offense.  My objective to to identify the venue which serves THE BEST VODKA MARTINI.

Cheers.

Bob Brown

For more information on me, please see about.me/rsbrown and newworldmp.com/robert-steven-brown.aspx.