Happy National Martini Day!
“…Although the exact origin of the martini is unknown, this iconic drink has earned a permanent place in the pantheon of classic cocktails. The first printed recipe for a “Martinez” cocktail appeared in a bartending manual published in San Francisco in 1887. However, historians disagree over whether the beverage actually originated on the West Coast. In 1911, a New York City bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia began serving a cocktail made with gin, vermouth, orange bitters, and an olive garnish. The martini gained widespread popularity among Manhattan socialites, and has been associated with New York ever since. Today, 50% of all cocktails are served in a martini glass. Some of the most famous (historical and fictional) martini lovers include: John D. Rockefeller, Humphrey Bogart, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Clark Gable, Ernest Hemingway, and James Bond.” – www.punchbowl.com
Martinis have always felt like a winter drink to me (so expect plenty of recipes come late fall/early winter), but none the less today is National Martini Day so in honour of that here is the a martini I had a few weeks ago at my Mom’s house. We got to be the ‘guniea pigs’ for her ‘girls martini weekend’ recipes. This one was my fave!