Martini - a real Martini

How have we gone so long without addressing the kingpin of all cocktails, the Martini? This cocktail, more than any other perhaps, is the subject of debate and a serious victim of identity theft.

Let’s first deal with the identity theft issue. A Martini is made with Gin and Vermouth, in hotly contested quantities and proportions, chilled on ice and served neat in a cocktail glass with a garnish (most notably an olive). That’s it. Nothing else is a Martini. Yes, we are aware that there are thousands of drinks that liberally use the moniker “Martini” but they are simply pretenders – final – end of story.

The debate regarding the Martini typically concerns the ratio of Vermouth to Gin. It is known that the first Martinis utilized far more Vermouth than do modern versions. In fact the first Martini used sweet Vermouth. A century ago Martinis would typically use a ratio of 2-to-1 or 3-to-1 (Gin to Vermouth). Today the standard ratio runs between 7-to-1 to 9-to-1.

While the amount of Vermouth used is a matter of personal preference it is certain that a Martini must contain Vermouth. If you seek a Martini so “dry” that you forgo the Vermouth altogether, you are not drinking a Martini and you should man-up and order a chilled triple Gin served neat.