This article is the first in a series of articles that talk about cocktails in Dinner Parties. We will start with the most famous and undoubtedly the most glamorous of them all, the Martini. This drink can be mixed with Gin or Vodka and can be done in a number of ways which we will discuss next.
Becoming the Queen of the dinner party requires attention to detail. Serving cocktails before or after Dinner will certainly give you brownie points. It can be used as an ice breaker and get the party started. It could also be used as the perfect excuse to move away from the dinner table and into the drawing room or living room to continue the chat at a more comfortable environment.
I will be delivering a series of articles, each concentrating on a specific drink (Martini) or a category (Gin drinks with place names). I hope you enjoy them and get yourselves into mixing cocktails!
We have to start somewhere so I will start with the most famous of cocktail "The Martini". This drink saw invented in the USA some time during the second half of the 1800's. It is generally accepted that Jerry Thomas from San Francisco was it's creator. Though today this drink can be made with Vodka, it's most classic recipe will always be with Gin.
Before Vermouth was introduced in America The Martini used to be mixed with Orange Curaçao. It is said Jerry Thomas made it for a costumer on his way to Martinez California. For some Martini drinkers the amount of Vermouth poured should be as much as a dash, their formula is 1/8 of a measure of Vermouth with 3 measures of Gin. Then serve with a squeeze of a piece of lemon over the drink so the lemon oils float on the top.
Martini
1¾oz Gin or Vodka
¼oz Dry Vermount
Shake or Stir
1 Olive
Mix Gin or Vodka and Dry Vermouth in a shaker filled with ice. Serve on a cold martini glass without the ice. Decorate with an olive.
Sweet Martini
1½oz Gin or Vodka
¼oz Rosso Vermouth
Shake or stir
1 olive
Mix the Gin or Vodka with the Rosso Vermouth in a shaker. Serve and then add the olive.
Perfect Martini
1½oz Gin or Vodka
¼oz Dry Vermouth
¼oz Rosso Vermouth
Shake or Stir
1 Olive
Mix Gin or Vodka, Dry Vermouth and Rosso Vermouth in a shaker filled with ice. Serve on a cold martini glass without the ice. Decorate with an olive.
Dry Martini
2 oz Gino or Vodka
¼ oz Dry Vermouth
Shake or Stir
1 Olive
Mix Gin or Vodka and Vermouth in a shaker filled with ice. Serve on a cold martini glass without the ice. Decorate with an olive.
Dry Martini II
3 parts of Gin
1 part of Dry Martini
1 squeeze of lemon
1 Olive
Mix Gin and Dry Martini in a shaker filled with ice. Serve on a cold martini glass without the ice. Squeeze a few drops of lemon and decorate with an Olive and a lemon peel.
Apple & Melon Martini
1¼ oz Vodka
¾ oz Apple liqueur
½ oz Midori
½ oz Lime Pulco
Shake
1 slice of apple
Mix Vodka, Apple liqueur, Midori and Pulco Lime in a shaker filled with ice. Serve on a cold martini glass without the ice. Decorate with an olive.