The Dry Martini getting out of super dry and vodka territories

Dear blog reader,

This blog contribution was inspired by a good friend and colleague who taught me to never accept a bad Dry Martini and eventually took me down the avenue of taking bar tender classes. Without ambitions of being the complete guide to the perfect Martini, here are a few hints on how to start getting Martini savvy.

THE ORIGIN

Even though many alternative stories exist how it was born, I suggest the adoption of the theory proposing Knickerbocker Hotel in New York in 1912 as the origin for the drink. This enables us to zip the drink in graceful centennial celebrations throughout the year.

THE FUNDAMENTALS

The basics about the Dry Martini are well-known and straight forward

• Gin and Vermouth stirred with ice in a shaker
• Serviced in Martini glasses
• Garnished with Olives or a lemon twist.

In the search for the perfect Martini, bartenders exploit different types of Gin, mix ratios, ways of chilling the glass to perfection, tweaks to the garnish and topping it up with a famous quote or two when served.

GIN

The first Dry Martini point you might want to make is your choice of Gin. My Noilly Prat Vermouth is preferably blended with one of the following ones:

• Hendricks – distilled in exceptionally small batches
• Tanqueray Number 10 – Rich on citrus flavors
• Bombay Sapphire – Rich on botanical additions.
• Beefeater 24 – flavor rich recent invention with addition blended in during a 24 hour process.

MARTINI MIXOLOGY

Next point where people tend to have a clear preference is the mixing ratios between Gin and Vermouth. The past 100 years have seen the Martini to evolve from the original recipe to the driest possible advocated in the middle of the previous century.

• Traditional: Mixing 2 parts Gin and 1 part Vermouth
• International Bartenders Association guidelines: Mixed 3.66:1
• Bernhard DeVoto – Harper columnist : 3.7:1
• James Bond: 6:1
• Very dry ones: 7-15:1
• Dry Dry Martini contests: whisper Martini close to the glass….

The trend right now is towards less Dry Martinis and the DeVoto and IBA suggestion of 3.7:1 is proposed as a good aiming point to pick up at home

FAMOUS MARTINI QUOTES

The Dry Martini is tied to a number of good quotes. These one are my favourites

• “I must get out of these wet clothes and into a Dry Martini” Mae West
• “I never go jogging, it makes me spill my Martini” George Burns
• “Martini is the only American invention as perfect as a sonnet”, H.L. Mencken
• “One Martini is all right, Two are too many, and three are not enough” James Thurber
• “Shaken not stirred” Ian Flemming

SHORTCUTS

Here are a few shortcuts helping me to serve and enjoy great Dry Martini

• Spice up your bar with a few classic Martini glasses and some fun ones.
• Always keep a few Martini glasses in the freezer. Safe bet in serving well chilled Dry Martinis at home.
• Have 2-3 different types of Gin at home, to keep aficionados happy and the rest of us impressed.
• Ask for the “Bartenders special” when in a bar, just advice him on the choice of Gin and you add a bit excitement to the game.

A personal preference for a Dry Martini is stylish and do not go out of fashion. Stay tuned until the next post.