Cooking Lesson #1169: Customs House Monsoon Martini

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? Here’s a cocktail that was a winner at the Original Customs House Restaurant in Foster City, California. Our guests loved this powerful cocktail even during fair weather days in Northern California.
 
Monsoon, or the rainy season, is the seasonal wind off the Indian Ocean and Southern Asia blowing from the southwest in the summer and from the northeast in the winter (or even over the Foster City lagoon blowing northeast). We even have a monsoon season here in Las Vegas in the early fall season without the water feature.
 
Monsoons are all about a pleasant windy breeze, happy vibes and watching the weather with a cloudy mist. All you feel like doing is snuggle up in your bed and let the impression of rain showers, thunder sounds and that feeling of relief touch you while you play games or watch a movie and chill. There’s no denying that monsoons bring a chill in the weather and everyone has a different way of enjoying the monsoon season. To keep the body warm, a lot of drinks are available in this season, especially strong martinis.
 
Martinis are of various types. Some are made with gin and vermouth, others are made with vodka and tequila, garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. This time, spend your monsoons refreshing yourself with an amazing Monsoon Martini to cheer you up the whole monsoon season. My Customs House Monsoon Martini uses gin, vodka and dry vermouth garnished with a couple of drops of hot sauce to keep you warm.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients
1 ounce dry gin (from the freezer)
1 ounce vodka (from the freezer)
1 ounce chilled dry vermouth
6 drops ginseng bitters
2 drops hot sauce, float garnish
1 lime wedge, garnish
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Pre-chill a martini glass.
3. Stir (do not shake) all ingredients, except hot sauce, with ice.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Garnish with a float of hot sauce and a lime wedge.
6. Serve very cold.

------------------------------------------
ChefSecret:  For a garnish you can also use a slice of red jalapeno pepper in place of the lime wedge.
------------------------------------------
Quip of the Day:  Q. What did the bartender say after Charles Dickens ordered a martini?  A. Olive or twist?
-------------------------------------------
Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
 
We also have 1,000 archived Covid Era recipes that you can easily access using this link https://www.perspectives-la.com/Covid-19-Survival-Guide. Use the search box above our pictures to find what you’re looking for.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, kind, thankful, and stay well and safe. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2026 #MonsoonMartini #Gin #Vodka #Vermouth #GinsengBitters #Cheers2026 #Cheers #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
 
                                                                            ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2026

---