Last month, Honey and I started talking about doing something new in 2026. Nothing fancy or formal. Just an easy, come as you are way to open our home once a month and gather friends around one good drink. Each month we would pick something we were inspired by, throw open the doors, and get to shaking, stirring and sipping.
The plan was to start in January.
But then one morning during that slow, cozy week between Christmas and New Year’s, Honey woke up and said, “Why don’t we start tomorrow?”
So we did.
We sent out a quick text, pulled out the martini glasses, and just like that our very first Cocktail Open House was born. Our tagline said it all. Pop in and sip awhile. No pressure. No schedule. Just a standing invitation to stop by between six and ten for a single signature cocktail.
For month one, it was a pickle martini.
We first fell in love with this drink at Jollywood Nights, where it was served in the Tune-In Lounge and inspired by the Christmas pickle. We loved it so much that we ended up meeting the bartender who created it. He shared a few extra details, and once we were home, we set out to recreate it ourselves. One thing we learned quickly is that pickle juice varies wildly, and the brand truly matters. I’ve included the two we loved most.
Dixie Dill-ightful Pickle Martini
3 oz Hendrick’s Gin
1 oz Velvet Falernum
1 oz St-Germain
2 oz pickle juice from Grillo’s
1 oz gherkin pickle juice from Maille
Combine everything in a shaker with a hearty serving of ice and shake well. Add a few dashes of Tajín. You can also rim the glass if you’re feeling festive. Garnish with a couple of baby gherkins.
Sources
- Coupe Glasses (I LOVE them for entertaining – I have 12 and they can go in the dishwasher)
- Cocktail Picks
We ended up with a small but mighty pickle martini crew, and it could not have been more fun. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous it would be a flop and that Honey and I might be the only ones weird enough to love a pickle martini. That was not a problem at all. We were shaking, laughing, clinking glasses, and fully committing to the brilliance of a pickle martini all night long.
At the very last minute, I decided to make Cheese Gal’s baked Boursin and set out the last of Daddy-O’s chex mix, and I was so glad I did. Having a little nibble to go along with the cocktail of the month felt just right and gave everyone something to snack on as they sipped and chatted. It confirmed what I already knew. Good drinks are always better with a little something to eat.
Our first month was a hit. Easy. Relaxed. Exactly what we hoped it would be.
December: Dixie Dill-ightful Pickle Martini
January: Cozy Cocoa Edition
February: Espresso Martini Night
March: Empress 75
May: Margarita
July: Hugo Spritz
August: Gin + Tonic
And now, of course, we are already scheming January. Stay tuned.
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