It's not so much the drink itself, but the art of making it that I love. The Martini has long been a drink affiliated with class, sophistication, and my personal favorite: fun. I did a little research and found this snippet of history curtousy of wikipedia:
During the days of the California Gold Rush, in 1849, a miner struck it rich and was returning to San Francisco. The miner, arriving in Martinez, the first large town he hit, wanted to celebrate. He walked into our leading bar and asked for Champagne, a beverage which was not available. However, the bartender told him (the miner) that he had something much better than Champagne and served a drink which the bartender said was a "Martinez Special". The miner liked the drink and ordered for the house. After he woke up, some time later, he proceeded on to San Francisco where he immediately went to a prominent bar and ordered a "Martinez Special". The bartender of course had never heard of the drink and asked the miner how it was made and where he had heard of the drink. The miner said that the drink was made with one part of very dry Sauterne wine and three parts of Gin, stir with ice and finish with an olive and was made in Martinez. The bartender tried the drink himself and liked it and of course had his friends drink it. Over a period of years the name Martinez became Martini.
How great is that?! My personal absolut (no pun intended) favorite martini has to be the sidecar.It's ironic because this drink is not technically a martini, yet it seems to always be served in it's glass. Here is a recipie for my newfound fav drink!
3/4 oz triple sec
1/2 oz cognac
3/4 oz lemon juice
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
I am all about the roots of what we make and eat! Love your site, and look forward to following you -E
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