Fermented watermelon radish martini is a pickle twist on a vintage Dry Martini using fermented in season watermelon radishes brined with lemon myrtle, star anise and fennel seeds paired with Manly Spirits Dry Gin, a splash of dry Australian Maidenii Vermouth and a dash of grapefruit bitters. The fermented radishes add a salty and umami flavour that complements the delicate and complex sea gin without overpowering it. Dialling down the vermouth in this recipe allows the sea botanicals of the gin including local sea lettuce and the salty spiciness of the pickled radishes to take centre stage with a delicate note of grapefruit from the bitters. Fermented watermelon radish martini is a celebration of in season watermelon radishes using the pink-purple brine in the cocktail as a flavouring and a whole watermelon radish pickle sliced thinly in profile with gorgeous pink colour as a garnish. What is a Dry Martini? The Dry Martini, according to cocktail historian David Wondrich (2015: 265-266) in Imbibe, dates in popularity from the 1890’s and is a cocktail using dry unsweetened gin such as London Dry or Plymouth gin, dry French vermouth, and orange bitters, garnished with a citrus twist. For more on the history …