The Martini
Martini has been around for the pleasure of drinkers for over a hundred years. The exact origins of this exotic drink are still unknown, but records of the recipe date as far back as the 1860s. Not knowing the origin of Martini also keeps the recipe of the original martini secret. But the very first recipe is likely to be the one that includes 4 parts red, sweet Vermouth to 1 part Gin, garnished with a cherry. This first version of the Martini also included aromatic bitters and Old Tom Gin, which was very sweet with quite a strong Juniper flavor.
The Martini has evolved over the last century to include a number of different mixes so that it is can be appreciated by many more people who have vastly different taste preferences. Here is the recipe for the Classic Martini:
The Classic Martini
Ingredients:
Preparation:
- Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass or a Martini Shaker filled with ice cubes.
- Stir or Shake for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Add a dash of orange or Angostura bitters if desired
- Garnish with the olive or lemon twist.
There are a number of variations of this classic Martini to suit personal preferences. The most common variations of this popular drink are as follows:
Dry Martini - This drink only has about 1/2 the amount of dry vermouth than the classic Martini.
Extra Dry Martini - This has even less dry vermouth, sometimes only as many as couple of drops
Bone Dry Martini (Desert Martini) - This drink has absolutely no vermouth
Perfect Martini - This Martini is a great combination of sweet and dry vermouth in equal parts
Vodka Martini - In this variation of the Martini, the base ingredient, gin is replaced with vodka
Dirty Martini - This variation of Martini includes a small amount of olive brine for added flavor.
Gibson - In this case, it is the garnishing that is different, as this Martini is garnished with cocktail onion.
Manhattan is also a popular variation of the classic Martini and includes the following:
Dry Manhattan - This variation contains a dash of dry vermouth and is garnished with a lemon twist
Perfect Manhattan - Just like the Perfect Martini, this variation contains equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth and is garnished with a lemon twist.
Another popular variation of the drink is Rob Roy, which includes the following
Dry Rob Roy - This variation just contains a dash of dry vermouth and is garnished with an olive
Perfect Rob Roy - Like its counterparts, this variation contains equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth and is garnished with an olive.
Today, apart from these common variations, a number of different flavors can be mixed to add a zing to the drink. Popular flavor mixed with the Martini include Chocolate, Strawberry, Pineapple, Apple, etc.
For more detailed variations, check out the Martini Guide Recipe section
Read more about the Martini, Martini Equipment, Martini Ingredients, Martini Glasses or Martini Recipes
Looking for martini equipment, such as martini glasses and shakers? Amazon is a great source for cool martini equipment. Check out the martini glasses below!
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