The Martini, The King of Cocktails

We can all thank special 00 agent James Bond for popularizing the Martini — the most stylish and classy drink on earth. There’s just something special in the straightforward, strong drink. 

Yes, the Martini is quite heavy on the alcohol and not for amateurs. Yet, once you fall in love with it, you just order it time and again. The Martini is beautiful to see and even more to drink, but to enjoy the sophisticated drink even more, you must know all about it. Here’s all you wanted to know about the Martini. The king of cocktails. 

The History of the Martini

The acclaimed Difford’s Guide suggests the Martini comes from an attractive 1860s cocktail called the Martinez. It was served at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco and baptized in honor of the neighboring town of Martinez. An unknown bartender in Martinez might have very well been the creator of the strong drink, which was already listed in bartender extraordinaire Jerry Thomas’s 1887 edition of his Bartender’s Guide.

The gin-based cocktail gained notoriety in the early 20th century, especially during prohibition when home-distilled, illegal gin became widespread. Interestingly, the cocktail fell out of fashion in the following decades and was already deemed antiquated during the 70s and 80s cocktail scene that championed large, colorful drinks over more potent dry cocktails like the Martini. 

The 90s saw a Martini revival, and the drink regained the throne as the most stylish cocktail. Today, the Dry Martini is the fourth most popular drink worldwide after the Old Fashioned, the Negroni and the Daiquiri.

The Ingredients 

Gin is the most critical ingredient in the Martini. And since every gin brand uses a unique set of aromatics — roots, berries, herbs, spices and tree barks, there are literally hundreds of different Martinis based on that.

Gin might be the cocktail’s base but added aromatics from dry Vermouth are equally essential. Vermouth falls into the ‘aromatized wine’ category. Dry or French Vermouth is, in essence, fortified white wine infused with herb and other aromatics. Originally, a Martini could comprise equal parts Gin and Vermouth, but current trends call for very little Vermouth, sometimes skipping it altogether. 

The final ingredient is the garnish, and although variations exist, olives are still the preferred ornament for a dry Martini. 

Shaken or stirred? Traditionally, cocktails that aren’t made with fruit juice, also called ‘blind’ cocktails, are stirred with ice. Stirring the cocktail dilutes and cools it. Of course, for drinks involving juice, you want to shake them to incorporate the ingredients. Shaking a Martini might over-dilute it and could compromise the drink’s mouthfeel and aromatics.

Variations and Similar Cocktails 

A proper Martini is based on Gin. Yet, vodka renditions abound, and today one could argue the Vodka Martini is more sought after than the original. For purists, there’s no such thing as a Vodka Martini, which is actually called a Kangaroo. Nevertheless, times change, and for most of the population, you can make a Martini with either Gin or Vodka. 

A fifty-fifty Martini is made with equal parts Gin and Vermouth, while a Dirty Martini calls for a splash of olive brine. A Gibson is a dry Martini garnished with a pearl onion. Apart from these classic variations, the bartending community has gotten creative with their Martinis.

Flavored Martinis are limitless. From the Appletini to the Espresso Martini, from the Chocolate Martini to the Saketini. From the Blueberry martini to the Porn Star Martini. The sky’s the limit! And as long as the drinks are served in Martini glasses, they’re generally accepted as part of the drink family. 

Classic Martini Recipe

There are many Martini recipes, but a classic Dry Martini is a must-add to your cocktail-making repertoire. Here’s a straightforward recipe to try and tweak to your liking.

What you’ll need:

– A Mixing Glass

– A Bar spoon

– A Prong strainer

– A Martini Glass

Ingredients:

– 2 oz Gin

– 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth

– Ice

Directions: 

1. Fill your Martini glass with ice and water to chill it.

2. Fill your mixing glass with fresh ice and pour the gin and the Vermouth.

3. With a bar spoon, swirl the ingredients for fifteen seconds.

4. Throw away the ice and water from your glass.

5. Pour your Martini into the glass through the prong strainer and garnish with an olive.

Sophistication in its Purest Form

Now you know where the Martini comes from and where it’s heading. Now it’s time to add the classic cocktail to your rotation and enjoy it every time you need a strong, aromatic drink. 

An extraordinary apéritif, and a well-rounded drink for any social event or party, it’s hard to go wrong with the Martini, so enjoy it one sip at a time and experience its magic.