Earlier this year, the Shelter was noted in Esquire magazine for its martini prowess. The bar, located at 4155 E. Grant Road, charges $4.50 to $8 for its varieties. And with the newest James Bond blockbuster, "Casino Royale," out in theaters, we decided to ask an expert some questions about this über-trendy drink. Paris Nocera, 34, who has tended bar at the Shelter for nine years, was happy to comply.
Q. Use three adjectives to describe how a martini tastes.
A. Crisp, pure and classy. They're so versatile right now and so different.
Q. Does drinking a shaken or stirred martini really make a difference?
A. Yes, it does. With more traditional martinis, people prefer them stirred because if you shake it with ice, it blends a lot of water with the martini. The younger generation prefers shaken, because ice-cold is the way to go. They're easier to drink, especially with the new flavors. When something is very cold, it's hard to taste the true essence of the product.
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We serve everything shaken unless we're requested to stir.
Q. Is vermouth an ingredient in all martinis?
A. Vermouth is an integral part in a traditional martini. But these days, people very rarely want to taste vermouth.
Q. What is vermouth?
A. Vermouth is a liquor made from wine. It has some herbs added for flavor.
Q. What's the most unusual garnish you've added to a martini?
A. I've used a burnt match on the rim of a martini glass to give it a burnt flavor.
It's more about the attitude of the drink and the preparation of the drink than the drink itself.
Q. What's in a dirty martini?
A. A dirty martini has to have a bit of olive juice. It adds a salty, cloudy complexion to the martini.
Q. Can a Catholic drink a dirty martini?
A. Just not on Fridays during Lent.
Q. Do you notice a surge in the popularity of martinis every time a James Bond movie comes out?
A. In the past, yes. But martinis are so popular with us now that we don't notice the surges.
Q. Does drinking one make you British?
A. No, but eating bangers does.
Q. Who would win in a martini drinking contest: Carrie Bradshaw from "Sex and the City" or Daniel Craig as James Bond?
A. Are they drinking them together? I'm not sure who would win, but I'm sure they would end up pretty satisfied.
Q. A martini sounds like an awfully small drink. If I want a big one, should I order a marti- normous?
A. Martinis actually are exceptionally large, because it's a drink without ice, so basically it's just liquor.
Q. If I plan to slug these suckers down poolside, should I wear a martini bikini?
A. You should definitely have a lifeguard. And don't forget that martini goggles are a bit more dangerous than beer goggles.
Q. How many martinis, on average, would it take to drink someone pretty?
A. I'll use an old martini saying for this: "People say that martinis are like breasts: One is not enough, and three are too many."
If you're at the Shelter, not many, because everyone's pretty at the Shelter.
How do I make a dirty martini?
One-half splash of dry vermouth, 2 ounces of vodka or gin, one-quarter ounce of olive juice. Garnish with olives.
Fun fact
Garnishing a martini with onions actually turns it into a Gibson.
