“Martinis are the only American invention as perfect as a sonnet” – said Baltimore-born satirist H. L. Mencken. In the mid-19th century, people used to call any cocktail a “Martinez”. There is no exact record of the date of first making the Martini drink, but it is believed that in San Francisco at some point during the 1870s or 1880s Jerry Thomas created his version and called it Martinez Special.
So, what is a Perfect Martini? The perfect martini has just two ingredients: gin and dry vermouth mixed in 50/50 portions shaken over ice until very cold, poured into a cocktail glass and garnished with an olive or lemon twist.
In this blog post, we will discuss the different ingredients that go into a perfect martini and how to make one yourself. We will also talk about the history of the martini and some of the famous people who have enjoyed them!
History Of A Perfect Martini
Gin has been around for centuries and was one of the first spirits produced in England. The name “martini” comes from Martino, which means “little drinker” or someone who likes small amounts at a time – this refers to how much alcohol goes into each glass when mixed with vermouth (a type of wine). In 1806, Thomas Henry created dry vermouth using botanicals such as wormwood instead of sweet red beer like what had previously been used by other distillers during that period. He added orange liqueur to his recipe later on after meeting an Italian immigrant named Antonio Carpano while traveling through Italy where they both worked at different wineries before returning home together to London.
The modern version of the martini was created in 1887 by a bartender named Jerry Thomas who is credited with adding olives to the drink and serving it in a glass that became known as a “martini”. A few decades later, James Bond made the drink even more popular after ordering them in various books and movies he starred in.
So there you have it – the history of a perfect martini! Cheers!
LEARN MORE: What Is A Bruised Martini?
Make Your Perfect Martini
One of the most important things about a martini is that it has to be made with gin, not vodka. The first ingredient in any martini recipe should always be ice cubes or crushed ice because this will keep your drink cold and refreshingly chilled. Ice also helps make sure all other ingredients are mixed well together so that there is no separation between them later on. If you want something a little sweeter, then try adding some vermouth instead of gin when making your martini recipe!
Gin is the most important ingredient in any martini recipe because it gives that nice flavor and aroma to compliment all other ingredients used. The recipe calls for two ounces (60 ml) of dry or sweet vermouth depending on what kind you like best but some people prefer using orange liqueur such as Cointreau over this type of liquor if they have it available at home because they feel like citrus flavors go better together than just plain old alcohols mixed.
Using ice cubes from frozen water bottles works great too since there won’t be any dilution issues when shaking up your recipe as there would if it were made with normal tap water.
The recipe calls for two ounces (60 ml) of dry or sweet vermouth depending on what kind you like best, but some people prefer using orange liqueur such as Cointreau over this type of liquor if they have it available at home because they feel like citrus flavors go better together than just plain old alcohols mixed.
If vodka is used instead of gin in your recipe then add one ounce less per drink and make sure to use a higher proof spirit such as Everclear or Absolut Vodka so that the taste doesn’t get diluted too much by all those ice cubes! You can also substitute tequila for vodka in a recipe if you’re feeling frisky.
One ounce (30 ml) of Lillet Blanc can also be used as a substitute for dry vermouth but it’s not something that is found at every liquor store so don’t worry about finding it just yet. When shaken with cracked ice, the drink should last for about two minutes before being strained into a chilled glass and serve with or without an olive or lemon twist garnish.
Many people like to add olives to their martinis while others prefer using twists of lemons instead. It all depends on your personal preference!
The recipe above will make one perfect martini but feel free to multiply the ingredients by the number of drinks you want to make!
Ingredients You Need
- Gin
- Ice cubes or crushed ice
- Vermouth (dry or sweet)
- Orange liqueur (optional)
- Lillet Blanc (optional)
- Olives or lemon twist garnish (optional)
Taste Of A Perfect Martini
A perfect martini should be cold and refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. The gin gives it a nice flavor and aroma that compliments all other ingredients used in the recipe. It’s important to use quality ice cubes or crushed ice so that your drink doesn’t get watered down when you shake it up. You can customize your recipe by adding different flavors such as vermouth or orange liqueur.
Many people like to add olives or twists of lemon to their martinis, but it’s all a matter of personal preference. The recipe above will make one perfect martini, but feel free to multiply the ingredients by the number of drinks you want to make! So next time you’re feeling thirsty, why not try making yourself a delicious and refreshing perfect martini? Cheers!
LEARN MORE: Pomegranate Martini, Margatini, Orange
Conclusion
To order your perfect martini, let your bartender know if you prefer gin or vodka and how many olives or lemon twists you’d like garnishing your drink. So next time you’re looking for something to quench your thirst, hope this article will help you to find your perfect.
