Funyuns Gibson

While donuts, cookies, and candy are delicious, these sweets don’t always scratch our snacking itch: sometimes we crave something savory. When it comes to food, this is a well understood phenomenon, and there are practically unlimited varieties of salty, umami-packed treats from which to choose. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of cocktails: other than dirty martinis, micheladas, and various bloody marys, there aren’t many options for drinks that don’t lean sweet. 

One evening during cocktail hour, I wanted to make myself a drink but didn’t feel like having anything sweet. Then it occurred to me that maybe the salty junk food I often craved could inspire a new savory cocktail: and thus the Funyuns Gibson was born.

What is a Funyuns Gibson?

The Funyuns Gibson is a playful (and delicious) variation on a classic gibson cocktail. Traditionally, a gibson is made just like a standard gin martini but rather than being garnished with olives, it’s garnished with pearl onions. The Funyuns Gibson is different in that it gets plenty of salty, fried onion flavor from gin that’s been infused with Funyuns. If you’re looking for a variation on a dirty martini and you’re a fan of the iconic onion snack, the Funyuns Gibson should be right up your alley. The Funyuns add a brothy richness to the gin that makes the riff on the classic as irresistible as the chips themselves (but unlike the chips, you probably shouldn’t have too many: this is a boozy drink).

What Is Vermouth?

Choosing (and Infusing) the Gin

When selecting the gin for the cocktail, a classic London dry gin like Tanqueray works well—ideally, stay away from gins with strong citrus or floral profiles. To make sure the infused gin achieves the correct mouthfeel, I recommend not only straining out the solids through a fine mesh strainer after the infusion period, but to go the extra mile and strain the gin through a damp coffee filter placed inside a large strainer over a bowl. This extra straining will help remove all of the chip debris, resulting in a clear gin with a smooth texture. 

How to Serve the Funyuns Gibson

As far as vermouth goes, Dolin Dry or Carpano Bianco are both good options (and feel free to reduce or omit the vermouth if you prefer your martinis dry). The cocktail should be served in a frozen coupe glass, and should be garnished either with classic pearl onions or Funyuns with a schmear of goat cheese: the sour dairy tang compliments the salty drink beautifully. 

I recommend enjoying one of these delicious savory drinks before or with dinner— they’re a delicious accompaniment to other junk food like burgers, hot dogs, and pizza.

Tips for Making the Funyuns Gibson

• If you feel the Funyuns flavor is too strong you can split the infused gin with non-infused gin to make the flavor more subtle.
• You can reduce or omit the dry vermouth if you prefer your gibson dry.
• Make sure to use a classic London dry gin or something with a savory profile: avoid using gins with overly floral or citrus-heavy profiles. 
• Note that vermouth goes bad over time (it’s a fortified wine, not a distilled spirit). It should be kept in the refrigerator after opening and its flavor remains optimal for approximately a month.
• Chilling the mixing glass and coupe before mixing the cocktail will help it achieve an ideal frigid temperature.