Undoubtedly the most famous of gin cocktails, the Martini reserves an unrivaled place at the summit of any cocktail book and is the true test of any bartender’s skills. It’s also the cocktail that generates the most arguments and the “perfect” Martini is an accomplishment so rare to behold, it’s akin to the Holy Grail.
The iconic cocktail’s history supposedly begins with a drink called the Martinez – which is also the name of a town in California which claims to be the geographical birthplace of the drink we now call the Martini. There is even a plaque in Martinez, California, that commemorates the birth of the Martini. It covers the story of Julio Richelieu’s bar in Martinez around the year 1870. Julio made a gin and vermouth concoction and dropped an olive into the drink before serving it to the customer. Allegedly, this was the birth of the Martini.
Ingredients
- 45ml The West Winds, The Sabre Gin
- 15ml Regal Rouge Daring Dry Vermouth
- Lemon Zest
Method
- Add ingredients and Ice to working glass
- Stir
- Single strain into a Martini Glass
- Zest
- Garnish
Glassware
Martini
Garnish
Lemon zest
REMEMBER – The lesser the amount of vermouth, the drier the Martini is considered to be. If you like ice cold gin straight up go Bone Dry. If you like both Sweet and Dry Vermouth – go for a Perfect Martini.
