Martini Cocktail

Classic cocktail around whose origin many legends are entwined. There are at least ten versions surrounding the "invention" of the Martini, but it is most likely that this drink developed slowly. The most probable precursor of the "Martini" was a cocktail called "Martinez", which in turn owes its name to the Californian town of Martinez in Contra Costa County, where it became popular towards the end of the 19th century. There is even a plaque commemorating the "Birth of the Martini" at the intersection of Alhambra Avenue and Masonic Street. As early as 1850, Vermouth was exported to the USA, but it was not added to gin by bartenders until around 1880.

Origin of the Martini

Of course, there is no precisely documented date of the "very first Martini". A "Martinez" was first mentioned in writing in 1884, to which Curacao, Maraschino (cherry) and orange bitters were added instead of gin. The New York bartender Jerry Thomas is considered the inventor. The name "Martini" was first mentioned in 1888 and "Dry Martini Cocktail" in 1904 in a French bar book. In any case, the Martini is one of the aperitifs and today is usually mixed from several portions of gin and a smaller portion of mostly dry Vermouth. However, vodka can also be used instead of the classic gin, but then it must be explicitly ordered as a "vodka martini". If a whisky is added instead of gin, as well as Angostura, then this is a Manhattan.