Today people use the term martini to cover any drink that is served in a cocktail glass. But does anyone even know what a Martini is? I Recently ran into young bartender who had never made a martini with gin and vermouth although that is the very definition of a Martini.
ME: I’d like a Tanqueray Martini up.
BT: Gin? Do you still want olive juice
ME: No, I’d like vermouth.
BT: (Slowly) Okay, you want me to put it in the glass then pour it out?
ME: No, I’d like you to put the vermouth in and leave it.
BT: You mean like an ingredient?
ME: Exactly. I’d like it up and served with an olive
Look if you want to drink chilled vodka with olive juice, knock yourself out, just don’t call it a martini. In this video I rant on what’s happened to the martini. You’ll also see how to make a classic gin martini.