I will be the first to admit that I was not hopeful when I stepped into the Reel Martini Bar in Omaha, hoping to have them make me an outstanding Martini.

I had been warned (thank you Kip) that it would likely be a disappointing experience, since I was on a quest to find, if not a perfect Martini in Omaha, then at least an excellent one. However, I was not quite prepared for what I did find. This strange, sports bar, "Martini bar" crossover pretty much failed in all regards.

It was too loud (by far) to be a Martini Bar. Not to mention the fact that, any bartender in a Martini bar should know more about Martinis than I do.

The music was also too loud to be a sports bar. However, the gigantic tv covering one wall and couches strewn about kept it from being a dance club.

So yes, it failed in all respects.

In a truly ideal world, I could have had a Martini prepared as such...

The Vermouth to be used in the preparation of the Martini would be Noilly Prat (NWA-ee Pratt) and would be poured into the Martini glass to start. The glass would be tilted and rolled, coating the sides with the Vermouth, then half of the Vermouth would be discarded and the other half poured into the "shaker". Note, I put that in quotes, because no shaking is going to take place.

Ice will be gently scooped into the shaker, so as not to chip the ice cubes. To this ice and the half measure of vermouth, Cadenhead's Old Raj Gin will be added.

The mixture will be stirred gently with a Martini spoon, designed not to chip the ice. This shall then be poured into the martini glass. Added to this will be an olive skewer with two rich, flavorful Sevillano Olives.

Now remember, we're talking the perfect world here. Those two olives would be book ending a pickled pearl onion, wrapped in a vermouth marinated rose petal to add a touch of aromatic color to the glass.

Did I get the perfect Martini? Why no...no I didn't. It went something like this.

ME (Shouting over the loud music): Do you have Old Raj Gin?
BARTENDER: Do we have what? Never heard of that man.
ME: Well, what Vermouth do you have?
BARTENDER: Uhh, the regular kind. (He looks at the label). Martini and Rossi.
ME: Fine, what Gin do you have?
BARTENDER: (lists off several of the usual suspects)
ME: Ok, give me a Plymouth Martini, two olives.
BARTENDER: (Throws some ice in the shaker, ladles in some vermouth, pours in a modest amount of Gin and proceeds to SHAKE THE LIVING CRAP out of the Martini Shaker for a full 30 seconds of "shake it like a polaroid" worthy, "shaken baby syndrome-esque", "beating the hysteria out of the woman in the movie Airplane" like Gin destroying carnage. Then pours this ice chip ridden, mostly water concoction into a plastic glass and hands it over.)
ME: (Speechless)

Yeah...Reel Martini Bar, not so much. My quest to find an acceptable Gin Martini in the Omaha area (outside of my own house) continues.