By far, the Martini is the King of cocktails. It is the icon of the cocktail culture and whole books have been written about its simplicity with a dash of controversy. You should know that no one knows when, who, or where the first Martini was created.

1882

The first known printed recipe for a Martini with Old Tom Gin is in Harry Johnson's 1882 book called, New and Improved Bartenders Manual. However this was not the first cocktail book. Jerry Thomas gets that credit below. Harry Johnson's recipe is below.

1887

Jerry Thomas published a cocktail recipe called a Martinez in the reprint of his 1862 book, The Bartenders Guide in 1887. (The 1862 book was the frist known cocktail book to be published.) The recipe for the Matinez consisted of gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, bitters and a lemon twist. This sounds like someone was trying to create a Manhattan spin-off.

1896

In 1896 the Marquerite Cocktail appeared in a book published by Thomas Stuart. The recipe is:
1 dash orange bitters
2/3 Plymouth gin
1/3 French vermouth
...which"is" a dry Martini, just not with that name.

1907

In 1900 William Boothby published The World’s Drinks and How to Mix Them. In 1907 the book was revised and reprinted with a Dry Martini Cocktail in the book, That recipe consisted of gin, French dry vermouth, orange bitters, a lemon peel and an olive.

Here are some more Martini recipes found in books from 1900-1930.

 

During prohibition (1920-1933), Martinis flourished because gin didn’t require aging like whiskey, so it was readily available in speakeasies. At the time Martinis were being made with equal amounts of gin and dry vermouth. Probably to mask the nasty bootleg burn of it. Through the years the amount of dry vermouth decreased and by the 1950s Hollywood movie stars were swirling just a couple of drops of dry vermouth in the glass on the silver screen.

1953

In 1953 Ian Fleming wrote about a fictional British spy named James Bond in the novel Casino Royale. Bond orders a cocktail called a Vesper (name of his love interest) containing gin, vodka and Kina Lillet aperitif, shaken, not stirred, with a lemon twist. It was the first time vodka had been mentioned in a Martini.

 

1962

In Dr. No (the first Bond film) James Bond drinks two medium dry Vodka Martinis shaken with a lemon peel and jumpstarts the sale of vodka in America while at the same time exploding the Vodka Martini worldwide.

1990s

Know that the novelty Martinis sipped today are simply the shooters that were chugged yesterday. And not too far back either! (mid 1990s!) They come in all flavors imaginable and are very marketable for the masses.

 

Martini, Straight Up: The Classic American Cocktail by Lowell Edmonds is the best Martini book you can buy. Inside, Edmunds explores the drink's historicity, political, literary, and otherwise, as well as the social complexity of this American icon. He dispells myths and reassures us about a legend who's status may be on the rise, but who's golden era has long since passed.

 

More things to know about the Martini

 

When a guest orders a Dry Martini it means that you only use a couple of drops of dry vermouth. When they order it very dry or extra dry it means that you don’t use any vermouth at all. An in & out or upside down Martini is when you swirl a few drops of dry vermouth to coat the inside of the glass and then pour it out. A Perfect Martini (or perfect anything for that matter) means to use half dry vermouth and half sweet vermouth. A Dirty Martini means that you add olive juice. And a Martini garnished with cocktail onions is called a Gibson. Martinis can also be requested on the rocks.

When you shake a Martini, the melting ice creates essential water needed for the cocktail. Some guests like it to be shaken until there are thin shards of ice on top and after straining. The feel of a shaken Martini is light and airy on the tongue because you’ve added air to the mix while shaking. The initial look will be a little hazy. Martini connoisseurs call this bruising the gin.

When you stir a Martini for half a minute, it creates a heavy satiny and silky feel on the tongue. The look is very translucent. This is the way Martinis were made before James Bond was created.

Martini connoisseurs say that you shouldn’t keep liquor in the freezer or start making a Martini with the liquor being cold because you don’t get the same dilution of water from the ice. Truly, it’s all how you like it. Lots of people like just a small amount of water being added to their Martini.

A Martini Mister is a small stainless steel refillable spray canister that you fill with dry vermouth to mist the top of your Martini.

There is much debate over how many olives a Martini should get. Most of the experts agree with one dropped to the bottom and will accept two speared olives through the sides on a cocktail pick due to the pressure of movies, TV, artist renditions, photos, cartoons, etc., because it’s hard to get away from what’s been crammed down the masses' throats. Three or more olives are unacceptable unless requested by the guest or you work at a low-end bar that stocks the tiny olives.

Olive stuffers can be found in upscale bars. The most popular ingredient to stuff in olives is bleu cheese.

The reason why gin and dry vermouth go well together is because gin is infused with herbs and botanicals and dry vermouth is a fortified wine meaning that herbs have been added.

You’ll find that Dirty Martini lovers like different strengths of dirtiness, so I’ve learned to ask, Would you like it R, X, or XXX rated?

Know that a Martini glass is a "type" of cocktail glass.

 

	Martinis with photos		Webtender's Martinis
	James Bond Martini's		Mocha Martini
	Oprah's Pomegranate Martini		Drinkstreet Martinis
	Mr. Lucky Martinis		The Surreal Gourmet Martini's
	Swank Martini Recipes		The Blue Martini
	Martiniart's Martini Recipes		Zigy's Martini Recipes
	Over 100 Martini Recipes		Martinisonline.com
	Smashing Pumpkin Martini		Martini Recipes
			Chocolate Martinis
	Caramel Apple Martini		Raspsberry Martini

 

	The Martini by Mr. Suave		The Perfect Martini by Drinkboy
	Rise and fall of the Martini by Drinkboy		Martinipic.com
	Zigy's Martini Lounge		Dale "King Cocktail" DeGroff's Martini Kit
	All about Martinis from askmen.com		Swank Martini Glasses
	Martini Quotes		After 5 Martini Ware
	Zigy's Martini Message Board		Martini Shirts-Hats-Stickers
	A Pork Martini?		The Secrets of a Dry Martini
	Martini Boys		Got Martini.com
	Martini Martini.com		Ice Luge's for Martini Bars
	Mr. Suave's Review on Seattle Martini Bars		The Martini List

 

My 4th published book, The Everything Cocktail Party & Drinks Book, has a chapter titled,"Martinis for the Adventurous". Here are the recipe names: Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Martini, Melontini, Goin’ Coconutini, I Dream of Genie Martini, Peaches and Creamtini, White Chocolatini, Blue Velvetini, Pink Cadillactini, Good Karmatini, Green Eyed Blondtini, Black Martini, Lucky Charmartini, Caramel Appletini, Southern Hospitality Martini, Honeymoon Suitetini, God Bless Texastini, Death by Chocolatini, Almond Joytini, Upside Down Pineapple Martini, and Tootsie Rolltini.