In Trastevere, since 2023, Jerry Thomas Bar Room has been regarded as a benchmark address for Italian and international mixology. Beyond the quality of its cocktails, two additional elements elevate the experience: interiors inspired by the carriages of the historic Orient Express, meticulously recreating a bygone atmosphere, and the direction of Gregory Camillò, the mixologist who has distinguished the venue since its opening with his creations.
The Epic Signatures Cocktail at Jerry Thomas Bar Room
One standout on the list is his Champagne Martini. “Champagne is one of the bar’s central ideas, so we wanted a Martini that nodded to it — the layered aromatic profile you get in wine, and that bright, cutting acidity,” says the Group Operation Manager. The real focus, he adds, was temperature — or rather, how the palate reads it.
“We designed the recipe to extend a ‘fake’ cold sensation, longer than what the actual serving temperature of the classic Martini gives you. It comes from the way the ingredients and the balance work together — including ice wine and Champagne vinegar — which keep a feeling of freshness even as the drink warms up while you sip.” The result is “a wet Martini with notes that recall Champagne, an emblem of luxury expressed both through the bubbles themselves and this great classic of mixed drinks.”
The Recipe of The Champagne Martini
Ingredients
- 50 ml Gin
- 7,5 ml Champagne Vermouth
- 0,5 ml Champagne Vinegar
- 7,5 ml Ice Wine
- 35 ml Dilution
Method
To make the Champagne Martini — a pre-batched cocktail, bottled, then stored in a freezer at –10°C — start by creating the Champagne vermouth. Build it from a master tincture with a complex bouquet, scented with spices and the bittering botanicals typical of dry vermouth, such as wormwood. Infuse the spices to obtain a concentrated blend, then add it in small quantities to Champagne, recreating a vermouth-style aromatic profile on a sparkling base. Add a portion of ice wine, which broadens the aromatics and brings roundness on the palate. Combine with the gin, then finish with a small measure of Champagne vinegar to heighten freshness and deliver a steady impression of cold from the first sip to the last.
Garnish
A lemon coin, to add color and aroma.
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Photo by Alberto Blasetti x Coqtail – all rights reserved
