Martini History

Enjoy a social gathering or simply hang out with friends with the world?s most loved mixed alcoholic beverage and quite a traditional one too. Martini it is; a cocktail of gin and vermouth served with either a slice of olive or lemon rind as garnish.

There are quite good variations in making this Martini. It is the unequal proportions of gin and vermouth that gives a lingering taste to Martini. Traditional Martini recipe however is a 2:1 proportion and contemporary martini drinkers prefer up to 5:1 proportion. In case you are one who freak on the dry Martini, then the ratio of gin to vermouth will go to as high as 15:1. Just remember the simple secret; less the vermouth, the drier will be your Martini

For those of who did not know how to take this; Martini gives that special kick when taken chilled in long stemmed Martini glasses. Today, any cocktail served in cocktail glasses is just referred to as Martini for its long-term association with the Martini glasses and Martini shakers

All you need for making the Martini is the Martini glasses, Martini shakers, fresh ice cubes, chilled gin or vodka and vermouth. The ingredients are mixed together either by stirring or shaking them with ice cubes.

Traditional Martini drinkers sip Martini in a stirring glass because they believe that vodka or gin mixes quite uniformly with the vermouth and shaking the Martini distorts the taste totally with bruising of gin. However, for those of the Martini drinkers who like to have Martini served shaken with ice cubes, oxygen is added to the beverage which enhances the taste of the cocktail.

Earlier days Martini was prepared with a 2:1 ratio, but then refinement had been the order lately which led to a 5:1 ratio. If you be one to love taking Dry Martini then this ratio could go as high as 15:1 of the gin or vodka to vermouth.

There are plenty of Martini variations with unique names though. One is Vesper Martini which is made from three measures of gin, one measure of vodka to half measure of Kina Lillet aperitif with large lemon as garnish. Others are In-and-Out Martini, Apple Martini, Lychee Martini, Tequila Martini so on and so forth

There are many stories as to the origin of Martini. But, there is no second thought to the fact that Martini cocktails sport once or twice in majority of movies (how can any one forget Ian Fleming?s James Bond having a special love for Martini?) and books of anglo-American culture. From President Nixon?s liking to James Bond Martini has been promoted to what it is today. [Lisa Condrey]