The Gin Martini is the original martini, and while variations of the Martini cocktail have appeared, due to the extreme popularity of the drink, hardcore Martini enthusiasts still prefer the Gin Martini over any other.
Well loved by the likes of Winston Churchill (who is said to have preferred his extra dry), Truman Capote or Cary Grant, this amazing drink is a common part of any kind of nightlife, and has even become a symbol for clubbing and partying. It's not uncommon for the idea of nightlife to be represented with the use of a trademark martini-filled glass and/or olives.
The art of mixing this drink has evolved ever since its beginning, sometime in the 19th century. Of recent, the ingredients are usually served well chilled, after having been kept in a freezer, but cocktail experts claim that the Gin and Vermouth should have room temperature, so that a small quantity of the ice melts in contact, releasing a little water that will allow for a more diverse palette of aromas from the two drinks to be detectable.
Gin Martinis are made from four parts of Gin and one part of Vermouth (either red or white, depending on preference), stirred with some ice, then strained and served in a martini glass with olives or a bit of lemon peel. If you use red Vermouth, you will get a regular martini, while white Vermouth will give you a dry martini. A dry martini can also be obtained by diminishing the amount of Vermouth in the mix.
Martinis are the kinds of drinks that allow for a kind of freedom in their mix, and preference, (as long as the two main ingredients, gin and Vermouth remain involved) is given predilection as far as quantity is concerned. Don't be afraid to experiment in order to obtain a kind of gin Martini that best suits your tastes.
The Gin Martini is the original martini, and while variations of the Martini cocktail have appeared, due to the extreme popularity of the drink, hardcore Martini enthusiasts still prefer the Gin Martini over any other.
