Resources for the Martini Lover

Recommended Martini Glassware: Swank Martini Company
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Oak Room Bar at The Fairmont Copley Plaza
Reinforced by its dark, mysterious elegance reminiscent of last century Boston Puritanism, The Oak Room Bar is a longstanding landmark. Frequented by movie stars, politicians and the wealthy, The Oak Room is now a favorite amongst the commoners. The exhaustive and creative martini list of The Oak Room Bar lends to the notion that many a deal, mixed with a cigar or two, has gone down in the very seats in which you sit.

This is The Oak Room Bar ode to the martini:
A chilled martini glass, the purist of gin, a touch of dry vermouth shaken not stirred and a plump, green olive. The martini was, and still is, more than a cocktail. The martini was originally mixed in the 19th century and was the favorite drink of such luminaries as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill. Martinis also inspired many great writers including Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, and Ian Fleming, whose popular super spy character, James Bond, preferred his martini's shaken not stirred. Author Bernard DeVoto called the martini, "... the supreme American gift to the world of culture." H.L. Mencken declared it "an American invention as perfect as a sonnet," in the foreward to The Martini by Barnaby Conrad III.

Martinis have never gone out of style and today there are many, many versions. No drink has kept its appeal across so many generations. Despite its many permutations by mixologists, the martini evokes style and sophistication. Back in the 19th century, a splash of maraschino liqueur found its way into the glen elixir. Eventually, bitters became part of the mix, then the martini found its perfect complement: vermouth.

After arduous experimentation, a progressively drier martini evolved. Over the decades, the gin / vermouth ratio has changed from equal parts to 2:1, to 7:1, to 15:1 and finally to the contemporary, bone-dry version, which is made with vodka instead of gin. According to legend, Sir Winston Churchill made martinis by pouring gin into a pitcher while glancing briefly at a bottle of vermouth across the room. (Martini Muse adds to this legend by having Churchill glance toward France as he passes the bottle of vermouth over the gin-filled martini glass.)
The American Mixologist Online
Vodka Brand info courtesy of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vodkas

Martini Resource Guide

Over 250 Martini Recipes!

Martini of the Month

Meadow Lark Vodka Martini

Mike Sherwood of Santa Rosa Spirits writes The Muse that he's been experimenting with two infusions from Sub Rosa Spirits. Nothing radical and, that he says, is the point. He likes mixing Elderflower Liqueur with Tarragon Vodka. The Saffron and Cointreau seemed destined as partners, "very lush and warming", he says. Mike adds a hint of fine freshly ground black pepper into a plain Tarragon martini. Grinding in white pepper also works well. The martini is meant to be understated which brings out the delicate flavor of the tarragon.

1/4 oz. St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur
2 oz. Sub Rosa Tarragon Vodka
splash of lemon juice
2 oz. soda water

Combine all ingredients into a martini glass over cold ice - check out Swank Martini Glasses for a nice selection of classic, cool and artsy martini glasses - and shake. The elderflowers bring imagery of a fresh summer meadow at sunrise. The Meadow Lark is Oregon's state bird.

The Marseille Airport Martini

The Marseille Airport Martini may require 1-2 ounces of ginger ale or a juice of your liking. The weekend bartender at Serattos make this one with a little soda water mixed in. Soda cut the sweetness of the orange liqueur but need to play with this one a little more. The Marseille Airport Martini has a pale yellow orange cast to if from the Saffron vodka and Cointreau. The aroma is warm and familiar yet not completely identifiable due to the toasted cumin wafting over the orange liqueur and fresh lime. Think Golden Cosmopolitan minus the juice.

2 ounces Sub Rosa Saffron infused vodka
1 ounce Cointreau
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
2 dashes Peychaud's bitters (Orange bitters will work as well)

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a long twist of lime.

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