Tunnel - Cocktail
Welcome to another Drink with Chu!
Let's start with a game.
Do you know the three basic ingredients that go into a Negroni?
That’s right, blood, sweat and tears!
Not your regular Negroni!!
Uh.. close, but actually, it’s Gin, Campari and Sweet Vermouth.
However, before we get away with a different topic, just follow me and detour back to the tunnel!
SO where should we start?
During the 2000s, the Negroni made a massive comeback in the cocktail world becoming one of the most ordered beverages. But in my opinion, there’s a better version of it – the Tunnel cocktail.
Now, imagine someone took all the classic elements of a Negroni, but expressed it as a Martini and modified it to be even better, drier and sharper. That’s the Tunnel cocktail.
But before we get into the history of the Tunnel and what goes into it, first let's talk about the cocktail!
What is a Tunnel?
CHU CHU!
A Tunnel includes: Gin, Campari, Italian (sweet) and French (dry) vermouth. Stir over ice and garnish with a squeeze of orange peel. At this point, it seems just like a Negroni, with the addition of dry vermouth. Indeed, the first written record of the Tunnel recipe appeared in the book - 1700 Cocktails For The Man Behind The Bar, 1934, written by R. de Fleury.
No. 1150 out of 1700…..
The book doesn't make mention of where this new spin on an old classic came from, however It was common in the early 1900s for bartenders to over-sweeten drinks (‘sugar makes everything taste better!’), hence, balancing that sweetness with dry vermouth can lower the sugar content. A good tip that’ll help you save on sugar tax in the future!
Negroni + Martini = Tunnel?
If you're still reading at this point, then I think you’re ready - let’s make some adjustments and make this drink taste a little more complex! Balance is a critical component of flavour and texture, equal parts of the three ingredients creates a bittersweet version, but what about modifying it to become a Perfect Martini?
Chu’s Geeky corner:
Perfect is a common word / industry term for describing a cocktail with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth. Therefore, a Perfect Martini is a good measure of gin mixed with equal parts of both sweet and dry vermouths.
Ready for Tunnel #2?
OK, Giddy up!
Let’s imagine you increase the amount of gin as a base spirit, thereby reducing the Campari and vermouth mix ratio, and serve without ice in a cocktail glass. So by doing this we’ve converted it into a Perfect Gin Martini with Campari, aka Tunnel #2.
Is your head spinning yet?
A well-balanced Tunnel #2 creates a sharper texture and higher alcohol content from the Gin; and then the Campari and Vermouths provide a bittersweet backbone without dominating the flavours and it actually works!
In my opinion, it holds the fascinating part of a Negroni; the bitterness, while savouring the beauty of a Martini; the sharpness. By combining these two key factors, a Tunnel Cocktail gives a rich aroma from the two vermouths, with a touch of herbal character from campari and of course, gin.
Some of you may be wondering, isn't this cocktail sound profoundly similar to another classic - a Cardinale or a Gloria? Ah ha, guess what? The Tunnel cocktail is, in fact, something of an "uncle" and precursor to these two drinks!
To summarise, while a Tunnel cocktail may not be as popular, or a world renowned classic cocktail, I see it as a beautiful home-bar-friendly Martini and a great twist on your daily Negroni!
So, sometimes one plus one can equal three! (words from a real ‘maths person’) – so get on it and next time try making or ordering a Tunnel!
Chu's Favourite Tunnel Recipe
40ml London dry gin (Tanqueray Ten)
20ml Campari
10ml Sweet vermouth (Martini Rosso)
10ml Dry vermouth (Noilly Prat Dry)
Stir, serve without ice, add lemon peel and enjoy!
Thanks for joining me for another Drink with Chu! I hope you’ve found it both fun and informative – see you next time!
