Refrigerator

The record heat wave we are experiencing in Texas has a lot of folks reaching for an ice cold refreshment. I’m reaching for an entire refrigerator and freezer unit. You have to admit, it’s pretty cool. Made by one of the Karakuri Creation Group’s founding, and its oldest current member, Tatsuo Miyamoto, the Refrigerator is a classic piece from the archives.

I had a rare chance to ask Mr. Miyamoto a few questions, thanks to some help from another KCG member, Osamu Kasho, who acted as intermediary. The Refrigerator puzzle box was created for one of the Karakuri Group’s annual exhibitions, which had the theme of “Nostalgia”. Miyamoto-san reflected back to his childhood, and an old refrigerator unit the family had in his house back then, that he tinkered with and took apart. He decided to remake the memory out of oak and magnolia. Tiny details are expertly rendered a few clever tricks keep the two compartments tightly sealed.

Making miniature furniture was also something nostalgic for Miyamoto, whose father, Tamakichi-san, was a woodworker who taught him the trade. “When I was young, I learned wood working from my father Tamakichi, who was making miniature furniture, music boxes, trick cigarette case, etc.” He recalls meeting Akio Kamei, the Creation Group founder, “at some meeting when Kamei was just beginning to form the group”. Because he was also making such trick boxes, he joined the new group.

Over the years, Miyamoto-san has produced many classic Karakuri works. He selected A Chance Meeting and Kuru Kuru Heart as two of his favorites, representing the best of his work and ideas, because he feels that these designs came out well. Both puzzles feature elegantly executed tricks and are perfect examples of the general style of great Karakuri Creation Group boxes, which do not have to be terribly difficult to be satisfying. Both also feature hearts, as do a great many of Miyamoto-san’s creations. When I asked him if he considers himself to be a romantic he agreed. “Yes I am romantic! I think I have a great sense of humor, playfullness, and I loves jokes.” His message to his fans: “Thank you for enjoying my boxes.”

For the toast to Miyamoto-san and his ultra cool Refrigerator I’m reaching into the freezer box for something ice cold and easy to pour. Which is not to say it isn’t really good, too. In fact, this ready-made ice box martini won top honors in Punch magazine’s blind martini taste tests. It features a London-dry gin style which is often favored by martini enthusiast, and you will be hard pressed to find a bigger enthusiast than Houston’s own Bobby Heugel, owner of the award winning Anvil Bar & Refuge and Tongue-Cut Sparrow bars.

Heugel’s freezer martini plays with a few essential ideas for the perfect freezer batch. He leans heavily into the classic London Dry style of gin, but softens it by 25% with a lighter, more citrus forward and cocktail friendly gin. The vermouth to gin ration is always critical, and here it clocks in at approximately 44% - not quite a fifty fifty martini but extremely wet. Heugel specifies to use a very dry vermouth, which balances this ratio and keeps things tasting like a real martini. The heavy water dilution allows the drink to mix and mellow, and get ice cold in the freezer, ready to pour, with no further ice stirring needed prior to enjoying. Which is really nice when it’s too hot to do much more than pour. Cheers!

Bobby’s Martini by Bobby Heugel

12 ½ oz London Dry gin (preferably Tanqueray)

4 ½ oz gin (preferably Tanqueray 10)

7 ½ oz dry vermouth (preferably Noilly Prat Extra Dry)

 9 ½ oz filtered water

Combine ingredients in a 1 liter bottle and place in the freezer overnight. Serve when ready in a chilled glass. Lemon twist garnish preferred.

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