The classic martini

Instantly recognisable from the American prohibition era of 1920 to 1933; the martini is a cocktail blend of gin and vermouth garnished with either an olive or a lemon twist. An American gin innovation, the martini is the classic cocktail of the roaring twenties and then the more subdued 1930s. By 1922 the Martini reached its most recognisable form of London dry gin mixed with dry vermouth.

At a ratio of 2:1, the classic gin martini is stirred in a mixing glass with ice cubes and poured into a martini glass; a gin based martini is stirred and not shaken. Aromatic bitters can be blended into the mixing glass and then strained into a chilled cocktail glass to add a little complexity to the flavour but I prefer mine at a 5:1 ratio with only a green olive to complete the drink.