In T.S. Eliot's poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, the narrator famously recalls, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." As we roll past the two-year mark of when "Covid-19" first entered mainstream consciousness, I realize I have measured out my life with Martini glasses — and I still am.
I've always known that the crisp neutrality of the Martini can offer a pristine backdrop. That's why it's always been the opening sipper of any bar that's new or new-to-me: it's the ultimate acid test to evaluate how the classic might be configured and presented. It might be made with a high-end gin, a fancy glass or garnish, or super-chilled to an impeccably icy sheen. It's also my go-to at bars that aren't necessarily "cocktail bars," when I just want something reliable, the way some friends feel about ordering a beer at their favorite local. After all, it's a drink that can never truly be ruined. Not even by a global pandemic.
