Everything about the Martini

Everything About the Martini
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_Cummings]Jan Cummings

The martini is a strictly American drink. The original martini is a drink made with gin and vermouth and usually garnished with an olive or a lemon peel. Although today there are many different martini variations. In this article we are going to talk about the origins of the martini, the original recipe, and how the modern martini has evolved.

There are a couple different versions of the origins of the martini. One of these stories dates back to the gold rush in 1849. There was a minor who struck it rich and he was on his way back to San Francisco. He arrived in Martinez and wanting to celebrate he went to a bar and the first drink he ordered was Champagne.

They didn't have any Champagne. So, the bartender suggested a drink called the Martinez Special. This drink was made with one part dry wine and three parts gin it was then stirred with ice and garnished with an olive.

After the minor returned to San Francisco and continued to celebrate his success he would enter bars and order a Martinez Special. Even though the bartenders had never heard of the drink they would ask him what the ingredients were and comply with his wishes. Over time this drink evolved into the martini. At least that is one version of how the martini was created.

Another version of the origin of the martini revolves around the use of vermouth in the drink. In 1863 Martini and Rossi introduced dry vermouth to the US. Some historians believe that the use of vermouth in the drink, evolved into the drink being called a martini.

Either way the martini is a strictly American drink. In fact, in some European countries when you order a martini you will get a glass of iced vermouth. Because of famous people who have been known to drink martinis, and the coolness factor, associated with shows such as Sex And The City and Mad Men, the martini is known to be a very hip drink.

So, the original martini, is made with gin, and a little bit of vermouth, and shaken or stirred with ice, and strained into a stemmed class, and garnished with an olive. Other common variations include substituting vodka for gin. There are also variations on the amount of vermouth used. The less vermouth used the more dry the martini will be.

There is also controversy about whether to shake or stir the martini. Some purists believe that shaking a gin martini will bruise the gin. Others believe that the shaking will help mix small ice particles into the drink and create a chemical reaction which will actually improve the taste.

However you like to make your martini it is really a matter of taste. There is no wrong way or no right way. It just depends upon your personal preference. The best martini is a martini created distinctively by you. Please drink responsibly and don't drink and drive.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Everything-About-the-Martini&id=3171561] Everything About the Martini