The Martini – just saying the name conjures images of elegance. You can practically hear the deep voice of James Bond saying “shaken, not stirred” somewhere in the background every time you order one. The Martini is not just for high society anymore. It has become a drink anyone can enjoy.

A traditional Martini is made with gin, vermouth and an olive. Some people can’t tolerate the tanginess of gin, and vodka has become an acceptable replacement. Vodka is much smoother than gin, and some people prefer that. A word to the wise – if you’re drinking your vodka Martini next to a gin Martini purist, you will definitely hear about it. Be prepared to argue for your choice.

People who love to drink a traditional Martini believe that it comes in only two variations: dirty and regular. A dirty Martini is a Martini made with olive juice as well as vermouth, giving it a smoky color.  The regular Martini is clear.

Over the years hundreds of variations on the Martini have become popular.  There are even entire bars devoted to nothing but Martinis: gourmet, novelty, and traditional.  No matter your taste, there is a variation on the martini out there for you.

So how did the Martini begin? That is a hotly debated topic.  Popular bartender folklore has it starting at the Knickerbocker club in New York in 1907.  That is most likely not true, since it can be found in bartending guides and recipe booklets as early as the late 1800s.  One thing is certain – it has generated some fun folklore and quotes over the years.

“A medium Vodka dry Martini with a slice of lemon peel, shaken not stirred.” James Bond (Ian Fleming character)

“One Martini is alright, two is too many and three is not enough.”  James Thurber

“ I am prepared to believe that a dry Martini only slightly impairs the palette, but think what it does for the soul.” Alec Waugh

There are many legends surrounding the original Martini, but one you can count on is the difference between the original ingredients and today’s ingredients. Today’s ingredients, namely London Dry Gin and French Vermouth, were not being made at the time the Martini made its first appearance. The ingredients used when it was first invented included a brand of gin called Old Tom, which was a light gold color and very sweet unlike today’s clear dry gins.

The other ingredient was a sweet Italian vermouth. This vermouth is almost a pink color, and is much less dry than the clear French version we have today. The original drink was garnished with a cherry. We are not sure when the olive was first used, only that it has become standard today.

Another difference between to gaze extremely dry Martini and the Martini of yesteryear is the ratio of gin to vermouth. The original drink used a 4 to 1 ratio. That means four parts of vermouth to one part of gin. The drink made today reverses that completely. You can see that the original Martini was much closer in color and garnish to a Manhattan.

Whether you prefer your Martini with Gin or Vodka, sweet or dry, you know that drinking one implies sophistication. This is the most personal of all the cocktails. Each person who drinks a Martini knows exactly how they want it fixed and served. Whether you are a traditionalist or someone who likes to experiment with different flavors, once you become a Martini drinker you rarely drink anything else.