Rob Rittmeyer makes an Old Fashioned with a little bit of bourbon, a little bit of sugar and “a little bit of love.”
As is standard for this drink, Rittmeyer crushes the sugar by hand, with a muddler. He has two to choose from: an old-school wooden muddler and a newer one that sports a metal handle and a plastic end. For a man who’s been texting for only a year, the vintage muddler will do.
“I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy,” Rittmeyer, who’s been a bartender in Santa Fe for 15 years now, says. “I like the old one.”
Rittmeyer came to Santa Fe from Taos in 1997 to work at Blue Corn Café and Brewery, which, like Rio Chama Steakhouse, is owned by Santa Fe art magnate Gerald Peters. He landed at Rio Chama four years later.
Rittmeyer’s Old Fashioneds are available any night of the week at Rio Chama. They’ve become prevalent since mojitos became popular around five years ago, he says.
He’s also ready for a new drink to take off: the Vesper Martini. Named after James Bond’s girlfriend in Casino Royale, the Vesper Martini features Hendrick’s gin, Grey Goose vodka, Lillet aperitif wine and a lemon twist.
Lillet, a personal favorite of Peters’ (no relation to the author) wife, according to Rittmeyer, gives the martini its near-fatal bite. The bar is ready to put the drink officially on the menu soon, Rittmeyer says, but until then, you’ll have to make a special request.
Vesper Martini: Combine Hendrick’s gin, Grey Goose vodka and a splash of Lillet in a mixer, shake, and pour with a lemon twist.
Woodford Old Fashioned: Mix Woodford Reserve bourbon, water, muddled sugar, a sliced orange and a maraschino cherry and serve.
Joey:
In Jennifer Newen's 1998 book, "The Best 50 Martinis", one will find at page 23 the following item under the title "James Bond Martini":
"Attributed to Ian Fleming, the creator of the james Bon character, this version was called a Vesper in Fleminig's novel Casino Royale. Remember to be authentic, this must be shaken rather than stirred. 6 parts gin, 2 parts vodka, 1 part Lillet blanc, crushed ice, lemon twist for garnish. Shake gine, vodka and Lillet with ice ... and strain into a chilled martini glass, Garnish with lemon twist."
I'm glad Mrs. Peters (no relation) likes Lillet, so do I. But the bartender in her husband's restaurant did not invent this drink. In fact, those of us old enough to have read the first James Bond novels within less than a decade after publication (Casino Royale was around 1953)--and gone on to enjoy martinis--have been enjoying this one as a "James Bond" or "Vesper" for a rather long time--long before, I would guess Mr. Rittmeyer was old enough to tend bar.
The bottom line is that it is fine to tout a good bartender--there are never enough of them. But please, do a bit of research before calling a drink that's been around at least since the early 1950s "new".