5 Martini Favorites
Whether you shake it, stir it or add a twist, mix up a Martini party with these favorites.
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From Martinez to Martini
There's a long line of individuals and companies who stake claim on the Martini. The Martinez Cocktail was born from the gold rush. Legend has it that in 1874 a San Francisco miner stopped at a bar in Martinez, Calif. and dropped gold nuggets on the table requesting whiskey as well as a special concoction. Barman and proprietor Julio Richelieu picked up a glass and a made a short drink with the following:
- 2/3 gin
- 1/3 dry vermouth and a dash of orange bitters
After pouring the mixture over crushed ice he dropped in an olive and boasted that he'd created the Martinez Cocktail.
In Jerry Thomas' 1887 Bartenders Guide the author takes credit for creating the Martinez Cocktail cocktail at The Occidental Hotel, San Francisco, Calif. But, the first mention of the word Martini is attributed to Martini and Rossi Vermouth who marketed a bottled Dry Martini around in the world in the 1890s.
Not everyone is comfortable with California laying claim to the Martini. According to English lore, the Martini was named for the Martini & Henry rifle used by the British army between 1871 and 1890. But, the rifle's inventor was Swiss, Friedrich von Martini.
Martini di Arma di Taggia, head bartender at New York's Knickerbocker Hotel at the turn of the century, is also credited with making the first Dry Martini for John D. Rockefeller in 1910. His cocktail of dry gin, dry vermouth and orange bitters is remarkably similar to that of the "Martinez Special" created 36 years earlier.
Special thanks to Tony Abou-Ganim, host of the forthcoming special Bar Chefs, for contributing to portions of this article.
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