Wine Enthusiast Magazine sat down for a drink with Academy Award-winning actor and restaurateur, Robert De Niro, to talk about his new vodka brand, VDKA 6100, and his favorite cocktail…a classic martini.
Check out De Niro’s martini recipe is below, and you can read the full interview here (featured in the February issue):
You own restaurants and now have a new vodka. Any parallels between entertainment and hospitality?
Yeah, sure. I mean people, no matter what, enjoy entertainment. For someone, that might mean seeing a great film. For another person, it might mean enjoying a great meal and a cocktail.
How did you come to be involved with New Zealand’s VDKA 6100?
A friend approached me a few years ago about an idea he had for a new spirit. I was intrigued, and I decided to meet with the team to discuss their ideas. Anything I choose to be involved in has to have a special quality to it, and they asked me to taste a few different vodkas, and I really gravitated toward this one.
Why vodka?
It wasn’t something I was actively searching for. But the opportunity presented itself, and it was a project I wanted to take part in.
What’s your day-to-day role with it?
I’ve been involved from the beginning. There are a lot of celebrity-backed products out there, but I pride myself in being involved in all areas, from development to our cocktail recipes. I didn’t just want to show up and be paid.
So, if I worked for VDKA, I could call you my colleague?
If I become involved, I like to be an active participant. It’s true about my film projects, and true about my business ventures.
What’s your favorite cocktail?
A classic Martini with a lemon twist (see below).
The De Niro Martini
Combine 4 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of dry vermouth and ice in a cocktail shaker. Stir. Strain into a martini glass, then repour into the shaker and strain again into the glass. Top with a lemon twist.