The Public Eye is a reverse martini with a splash of Génépy des Alpes to make it stand out. It’s the fifth recipe in the Oscar-Worthy Cocktails Series, inspired by Citizen Kane.
In the 1940’s, it seems like everyone was drinking martinis all the time. Even babies. So it was immediately obvious to me that my Oscar-Worthy Cocktail in honor of Citizen Kane had to be a martini. But not an obvious one. It had to be a martini with star quality. And The Public Eye fits that role to a tee.
[Tweet “For Your #Cocktails Consideration ~ The Public Eye #OscarWorthyCocktails #Oscars2017”]
It piques curiosity, sometimes even envy. Revels in the limelight. And firmly believes there’s no such thing as bad publicity.
It’s je ne sais quoi comes from an herbal liqueur that, until fairly recently, was most commonly sipped by avid skiers in the lodge after a day crushing the alps. Génépy des Alpes, a Dolin product, is a mellower, less sweet cousin to green Chartreuse.
The Génépy balances the gin and vermouth, whose ratios are reversed in this martini. And, since I’m always looking for a little citrus, I added grapefruit bitters and a twist.
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The result is a cocktail that’s both unique and uncomplicated. Unlike Charles Foster Kane. But what we lose in character comparison here we make up for in Ease of Use. Which, to me, seems worth it.
I hope you enjoyed this Oscar-Worthy Cocktails series as much as I did! What will you be drinking at the #Oscars2017? Let me know in the comments.

- 3 ounces dry white vermouth
- 1 1/2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce Génépy des Alpes
- 2 dashes grapefruit bitters
- grapefruit twist, to garnish
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Combine vermouth through bitters in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
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Stir for 20 seconds.
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Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses.
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Garnish with grapefruit twist.
Calorie info is approximate for one cocktail.
Still not sure what to drink Sunday night? Check out the rest of the Oscar-Worthy Cocktails series:
- Another Man’s Shoes, inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird
- Pretty Girl Punch, inspired by West Side Story
- Je T’attendrai, inspired by The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
- Mean Reds Crusher, inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany’s
I kinda love a martini in any form :). I have to try this!
I was never really into martinis but I am now!