Birk O’Halloran is an American winemaker known for launching Iconic Wines in 2011, and, most recently, California-based Rockwell Vermouth. O’Halloran bottled his first batch of vermouth this July, and I recently spent some time asking him about his backstory, the process of launching an American…

I recently had the privilege to speak with Simonson about his new book, current cocktail culture and MIX. Simonson has authored four cocktail books and regularly writes for The New York Times, PUNCH and Imbibe. His fourth book, The Martini Cocktail: A Meditation on the World’s Greatest Drink, with Recipes, will be released Sept. 17, 2019.

The classic vodka martini gets a slight lift via cranberry bitters and an expressed lime twist.

While it was the small, well-designed bottle and label that initially caught my attention, it was the ingredient list that led me to the purchase. It doesn’t get much simpler than aloe vera, cucumber, eau de vie, lemon peel, muskmelon, spearmint, sugar, and water.

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The martini. A classic, and arguably the most iconic cocktail. It’s hard to admit that I don’t think I’ve ever ordered one at a reputable cocktail bar. For whatever reason I’ve just never gravitated towards them. Perhaps it is the