Gibson

A Gibson is a classic savory cocktail made with gin. It is a variation of a Dry Martini but is garnished with a cocktail onion instead of lemon zest.

A Gibson Martini is savory and tangy. It offers a crisp, clean taste with the dry, botanical notes of gin and vermouth. However, the pickled cocktail onion adds a subtle sweetness, enhancing the drink’s complexity and character.

The first written reference to a Gibson appeared in 1898 in a New York newspaper. However, the first recipe for the drink didn’t appear in a book published until 1908. Interestingly, this early recipe didn’t specify an onion as the garnish. In fact, it wasn’t until 1917 that a martini made with Old Tom gin and Italian vermouth, known as an “L.P.W.,” featured a pickled onion.

Therfore, it’s thought that the modern Gibson was crafted by a New York bartender in 1908 when he added an onion as a garnish to a signature martini.

• Stir until you achieve the ‘perfect’ dilution
  When stirring a martini in a mixing glass, Ricardo “Rico” Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, advises, “Stir until perfectly cold and perfectly diluted.” How do you know when it’s just right? Rico recommends tasting a bit with a bar spoon  – if you enjoy the flavor, it’s perfectly diluted for you. If not, keep stirring.

• Pre-chill your Martini Glass
  Chilling your glass is a straightforward yet crucial step in creating the perfect Gibson. Make sure to chill your glassware 30 minutes to 2 hours ahead of time.

A classic Martini is made with gin (or vodka) together with vermouth and garnished with lemon zest. Any additional ingredients, such as bitters, are used sparingly to add just a hint of flavor. With that in mind, below are a few variations of a Gibson:

• Vodka Martini
  Although the first martini was made with gin and remains a popular choice today, vodka has since become the preferred spirit for a classic martini. In brief, a Vodka Martini is cleaner, smoother and less aromatic than its counterpart. Discover the recipe for a Vodka Martini.

• Use Vodka instead of Gin in your Gibson
  For an easy but equally elegant variation of a Gibson, simply follow the recipe on this page but swap gin for vodka. That’s it! Of course, you’ll lose the botanical notes that the gin provides but you’ll have a wonderfully smooth-drinking Gibson no less.  And if you prefer vodka over gin, then that’s the way to order a Gibson at a bar – a Gibson with vodka.

• Dirty Martini
  If it’s the savory element that you love about a Gibson, then you’re sure to enjoy a Dirty Martini. The Dirty Martini is one of the most loved savory cocktails, made with gin or vodka with olive brine and garnished with an olive. Learn how to make a classic Dry Martini.

• We recommend serving the Gibson in a chilled Martini glass.
• The most defining feature of a Gibson is, of course, its cocktail onion garnish so that’s mandatory. Simply skewer one or two cocktail onions and place it directly in your glass. Simply perfect.