Preparation
By 1922 the martini reached its most recognizable form in which London dry gin and dry vermouth are combined at a ratio of 2:1, stirred in a mixing glass with ice cubes, with the optional addition of orange or aromatic bitters, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. Over time the generally expected garnish became the drinker's choice of a green olive or a twist of lemon peel.
A dry martini is made with little to no vermouth. Ordering a martini "extra dry" will result in even less or no vermouth added. By the Roaring Twenties, it became a common drink order. Over the course of the 20th century, the amount of vermouth steadily dropped. During the 1930s the ratio was 3:1 (gin to vermouth), and during the 1940s the ratio was 4:1. During the latter part of the 20th century, 5:1 or 6:1 dry martinis became considered the norm.[3] Drier variations can go to 8:1, 12:1, 15:1 (the "Montgomery", after British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's supposed penchant for attacking only when in possession of great numerical superiority).
In 1966, the American Standards Association (ASA) released K100.1-1966, "Safety Code and Requirements for Dry Martinis", a tongue-in-cheek account of how to make a "standard" dry martini. The latest revision of this document, K100.1-1974, was published by American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the successor to ASA, though it is no longer an active standard.
Origins and mixology
The exact origin of the martini is unclear. The name may derive from the Martini brand of vermouth. Another popular theory suggests it evolved from a cocktail called the Martinez served sometime in the early 1860s at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, which people frequented before taking an evening ferry to the nearby town of Martinez, California. Alternatively, residents of Martinez say a bartender in their town created the drink, while another source indicates that the drink was named after the town. Indeed, a "Martinez Cocktail" was first described in Jerry Thomas's 1887 edition of his Bartender's Guide, How to Mix All Kinds of Plain and Fancy Drinks:
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 4 (6-ounce) white-fleshed fish fillets (like cod or haddock)
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, oil, shallot, capers, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; set aside.
- Coat a grill pan or skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Sprinkle fish with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
- Place fish in pan and cook about 4 minutes per side or until it flakes easily with a fork. Spoon lemon juice mixture over fish, sprinkle with chives, and serve.
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