World Martini Day
Whether you drink yours shaken or stirred
On June 18th, shake up some gin and vermouth with ice and add a lemon twist. It’s World Martini Day!
Craft cocktails and mixologist creations have come into vogue lately, but sometimes it's better to stick to the classics- and if there’s one classic cocktail that will forever hold a place in our hearts, it’s the Martini. This classic cocktail is timeless, an effortlessly elegant bar staple that will outlast recent obsessions with herbal syrups and mismatched, whimsical ingredients for many years to come. However, regardless of the Martini’s enduring fame, there’s still much confusion over what exactly goes into this long-lasting potion. We’re breaking down this sophisticated sipper once and for all, letting you in on everything you need to know about the most iconic cocktail, the Martini.
WHERE DID THE MARTINI START?
There are many theories about where and how the martini originated; some believe the drink was invented by a bartender named Martini in New York in the early 1900s. Others believe the drink was created by the vermouth brand Martini & Rossi. However, the most common story is that Jerry Thomas, a bartender at the Occidental Hotel, invented the drink in the 1870s in Martinez, California, for a miner who had just struck gold. The story goes that the miner actually wanted to celebrate with champagne, but the bar was empty. Thomas created a drink for the miner with the ingredients he had behind the bar - and unbeknownst to him, the martini was born, starting the cocktail craze for the gin-based concoction.
how to make a Perfect martini?
DRY MARTINI
A dry martini is fit for any occasion. Whether you're out at a nightclub or a fancy dinner, you'll fit right in with a martini in your hand.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 55 ml Gin
- 15 ml Vermouth Routin Dry
- Green olives
HOW TO MAKE IT
Pour Vermouth Routin Dry and Gin in a mixing glass full of ice. Stir well. Strain in a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a green olive
50:50 MARTINI COCKTAIL
With its lighter flavor profile and lower- alcohol sensibilities, the 50/50 might not be the Martini you're used to, but it's a Martini worth meeting.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 50 ml Noilly Prat Original Dry
- 50 ml Bombay Sapphire Gin
- Lemon Twist (natural zest vs sharp cut)
HOW TO MAKE IT?
In a mixing glass pour the ingredients over cubed ice and stir well to chill. Strain into a frozen martini glass and garnish with an olive or zest of fresh lemon.
THREE-INGREDIENT ESPRESSO MARTINI
Invented by the famous late bartender Dick Bradsell, as a peculiar request from a British top model in his London bar in 1983. The Espresso Martini is a cocktail with a story, a history and a legacy.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 50ml Black Cow Vodka
- 40ml Fresh, Cooled Coffee
- 15ml Maple Syrup
HOW TO MAKE IT
Put all three ingredients in a cocktail shaker, along with a handful of ice. Shake. But don’t just shake a little; shake a lot. Pour the drink into a martini glass. Leave a few minutes to fully settle. Garnish with one or two coffee beans.
THE TOMATINI
Like an incredibly light, almost deconstructed Bloody Mary, this elegant cocktail will have spring coming early no matter how cold it is outside.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- 50ml Ketel One Vodka
- 15ml white Balsamic vinegar
- 15ml fresh lemon juice
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 1 ripe tomato
HOW TO MAKE IT?
Slice the tomato into segments and muddle in the base of the shaker. Add the rest of the ingredients. Shake with ice and double strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with peppered cherry tomato.
SASHA SAYS:
"I've spent more of my life in bars - on both sides - than I should admit. An iced bottle of pilsner or a whiskey on the rocks can make me just as happy as a great cocktail, but my first choice is always the martini. Shaken or stirred - you can't go wrong with this classic."