Midweek Happy Hour: Gin, Lillet, and Orange Bitters Martini

Let's get the apologies out of the way first. I don't have a good Halloween cocktail for you. But, I think this is a brilliant fall drink so I'm posting it anyway.

On the good advice of Sous-Chef on the Run, I took a trip to the Eastern Washington town of Walla Walla and ate at Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant. The meal was quite good, but the highlight of my evening was my first sip of a Gin, Lillet, and Orange Bitters Martini. I know some purists who will tell you that a traditional martini isn't really a martini unless it includes orange bitters. Generally speaking, I'm a 3:1-ratio-with-an-olive girl. That's gin to vermouth, none of this vodka martini nonsense. But sometimes you have to try something new and the Lillet seemed like a reasonable and refreshing substitute for vermouth.

Ingredients:3 parts gin
1 part Lillet
Dash of orange bitters
Orange twist

1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice cubes.  Add the gin, Lillet, and orange bitters.  Shake vigorously.
2. Garnish a martini glass with an orange twist.  Strain mixture over the top.

Note: I tried substituting Angostura bitters for the orange bitters and was disappointed. The Lillet really benefits from the aroma and flavor of pure orange.