The Gibson Recipe
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon juniper berries
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 halved garlic clove
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pound small pearl onions, peeled, trimmed
- 2 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounce blanc vermouth
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/4 ounce onion pickling liquid
- 4 cups ice
- Pickled onion for garnish
- Whisk 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon juniper berries, 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 halved garlic clove, 1 bay leaf, and 1 1/4 cups water in a nonreactive container until salt and sugar dissolve. Add 1 pound small pearl onions, peeled, trimmed. Cover; chill at least 1 week and up to 3 months. Flavors will deepen with time.
- Stir 2 ounces gin, 1/2 ounce blanc vermouth, 1/2 ounce dry vermouth, 1/4 ounce onion pickling liquid, and 4 cups ice in a large stirring or measuring glass 1 minute (this is key to rounding out the flavors). Strain into a martini glass; garnish with a pickled onion.