Who doesn’t love a good old martini? The martini is one of the most beloved of all cocktails, and its association with class, sophistication, and style has been a lasting staple of the bar scene throughout generations. But what makes a classic martini a real martini? Where does this drink come from? And how can you change it up and make it something uniquely yours, especially when you might not be a fan of the traditional version of this drink in the first place? In this article, we’ll answer all your questions about the martini and help you learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about this drink and much more.
History of the Martini
Unsurprisingly, everyone wants to be able to claim the martini as their own invention. Because of this, it’s very difficult to pinpoint exactly where the drink came from originally. A popular take on the tale dates back to the 1800s, during the height of the Gold Rush. In this version of the story, a bartender made up a special drink for a gold miner who was trying to celebrate striking gold. The drink was made up of bitters, gin, vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and lemon, and it was dubbed the Martinez Special.
Although many people believe this theory, others don’t; some believe the martini was first created in the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York, for example. Others think the name of the martini came from a vermouth label known as Martini & Rossi, which was popular around the same time as the martini was originally created. In the end, it’s hard to say where the drink first came from or how it spread—but spread it did.
Today, the martini remains one of the most classic, iconic, and easy-to-recognize cocktails in the world. There are many different takes on the martini, however, some of which are more traditional than others. If you find yourself wishing you could enjoy a martini but not particularly fond of the flavor, or if you just want to branch out and try some other alternatives, check out the information below.
How to Make a Classic Martini
Before you can start changing the ratios and ingredients in a martini, it’s important to understand how to make one the traditional way. There’s not much to a martini, in terms of ingredients, so the enjoyment of the beverage is usually all about how you sip it and who you’re with at the time. Remember that this drink has a lot of upscale heritage behind it, so even if you’re having one at home after a long day of work, take some time to consider the history of the cocktail and where it’s come from. You might just improve your experience overall as you partake in one of the classic American cocktails.
Ingredients
• 2.5 ounces dry gin
• ½ ounce dry vermouth
• Ice
• Green olive
How-To
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Add gin and vermouth in the cocktail shaker and stir to combine.
• Strain into a clean martini glass.
• Garnish with the olive and serve immediately.
Optionally, you can use a lemon twist instead of an olive. This is still a traditional serving method that might take some of the bites out of the martini’s flavor.
Although James Bond might think otherwise, it is traditional to stir the martini rather than shake it.
Different Martini Styles
Below, you’ll learn how to make three variations on the martini. The first of these (Hibiscus Martini) is an up and coming drink that is gaining popularity in the modern world, while the last (Appletini) has been popular for the past few decades. The second drink on the list, the Gibson, is a classic twist on the martini that’s been around a lot longer than the other two and provides a subtler change to the formula that many fans of the traditional martini enjoy. Check these out and see which ones are more likely to please your palate.
Hibiscus Martini
Ingredients
• 1 cup fine sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 2 tbsp hibiscus tea in a teabag
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Lime peel for garnish
How-To
• Boil 1 cup of water and add 2 tbsp hibiscus tea. Let the tea steep for 10 minutes until strong.
• Remove the teabag and stir in fine sugar until dissolved.
• Cool mixture; this will serve as your hibiscus simple syrup.
• Chill a martini glass.
• Add orange liqueur, vodka, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker along with ¾ ounce of the premade hibiscus simple syrup.
• Fill the shaker the rest of the way with ice.
• Shake well for about 10 seconds.
• Strain into a chilled martini glass and serve garnished with lime peel.
Classic Gibson
Ingredients
• 2.5 ounces gin
• ½ ounce dry vermouth
• Pickled onion
How-To
• Put a small amount of ice into a Boston shaker—just a couple of cubes.
• Add gin and vermouth.
• Shake well until the shaker is chilled.
• Pour the mixture into a martini glass.
• Garnish with pickled onions.
Appletini
Ingredients
• 1.5 ounces vodka
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1-ounce green apple schnapps
• Apple slice
How-To
• Chill a martini glass.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Add vodka, lemon juice, and schnapps to the cocktail shaker.
• Seal and shake well.
• Strain into the prepared martini glass and garnish with the apple slice.
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn about the martini, it’s time to try a few recipes on your own! Once you’ve mastered the art of preparing a classic martini, you can branch out and try some of the variations. Some of these are a lot more popular and widely recognized than others, but no matter how well-known a drink may be or not be, you may find your new favorite cocktail among these options. Consider the flavors you often look for in a drink and don’t be afraid to sample new and enticing things when exploring the exciting world of martinis!
Because of this pandemic limiting what we can and cannot do, I’ve taken to trying various drink recipe each or every other day. So I’ll try the classic martini first. Only question I have is ,I have a bottle of Martini Rossi Dry Vermouth,the age of which is uncertain. Only small amount has been used. I’ll try it in classic martini and see how it tastes. I’d hate to trash it if I don’t have to.