I am currently on holiday in Nova Scotia. What a beautiful place filled with some of the friendliest people on the planet.

My only complaint…the lack of knowledge (in the places I have stayed) of how to make a martini.

We went to this fully stocked sports-themed restaurant in Truro and the server looked at me blankly when I asked for a gin martini. She said that they didn’t know that one.

Really??

I wanted to go behind the bar and give her a quick tutorial. I mean, how hard is it to shake gin and vermouth with some ice?

Then, last night in Chéticamp I was able to order a martini, but it was the worst I have ever had. It tasted like 5 parts water to no one part gin.

So, what I really wanted to get around to saying to y’all is that I love gin. Martinis and Negronis are my favorite gin cocktails, but I’m ever on the search for something new (to me) and different.

Enter today’s Dubonnet Cocktail. Evidently, it is a “favorite of Queen Elizabeth II and her mother, who preferred it served on the rocks.”

I have always wanted to try Dubonnet, the ruby red aperitif infused with a variety of herbs and spices. Finally got a bottle and mixed some with gin which made for a most delectable libation. I highly recommend making yourself a Dubonnet cocktail soon.

The Dubonnet Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce Dubonnet Rouge
Lemon twist for garnish

Directions:

1. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with some ice cubes.

2. Stir well.

3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

4. Garnish with the lemon twist.

Serves 1

Recipe from About.com

I often go outside my musical bounds when I am on holiday. I love to listen local radio, so on this trip that meant lots of Acadian, Celtic, French language tunes, some general Canadian pop and a bit of indie thrown in with the ubiquitous US tunes.

I love this song by Rich Aucoin. A tiny nod to Arcade Fire in his vocals and a full out fun wall of sound. A perfect drinking tune.

“When you give it all up, you get it back.
This heart is all that keeps us up, this heart is beating.”

Check out Rich Aucoin on Facebook and the band’s Website, where you can learn of upcoming Canadian tour dates and buy the music.

Cheers!