At Chef Sean Brock’s The Continental, where elegant hotel dining meets the culinary traditions of the 19th and 20th centuries, the glory days of the classic martini are making a grandiose return, just in time for year-end celebrations. Debuting on New Year’s Eve, The Continental’s new martini tasting experience, crafted by Bar Director John Howard, will soon be available at the restaurant’s back bar, penned The Vesper Club.
Featuring five courses of unique tasting-size martinis, each drink is expertly paired alongside some of the best exotic caviar that money can buy (including Siberian Sturgeon and Imperial Golden Russian). During the experience, guests will be guided through the tasting as they sip on each drink and indulge in exquisitely curated spoonfuls of caviar. With four of the five martinis made with vodka, a classic caviar accompaniment, Howard developed the drinks to complement the texture and taste of the paired caviar while also paying homage to the historic cocktail’s roots. Inspired by the storytelling of Brock’s tasting menus, the cocktails will all be served in different vintage glassware to let the flavor intricacies of each martini shine. Taking guests on a mind-bending journey through liquid, the martinis will feature exotic ingredients, with some being stirred, while others will be thrown and served straight from the freezer.
At just $100 per tasting, the new martini service is set to last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and was designed to be a perfect before- or after-dinner addition, or a special decadent experience all on its own. A robust a la carte martini menu will soon be available from the main bar and during dinner service as well. Following NYE, The Vesper Club martini experience will be available every night the restaurant is open, and reservations are set to open on 12/1 on Resy here.