There's no denying it: the martini is a classy drink. It's clean, simple and comes in an elegant cocktail glass. And for the most part, people look good drinking martinis (but don't think for a second we're talking about apple-tinis, choco-tinis or any other fruity-flavored cocktail that comes in a martini glass).
But all the allure that a true martini brings can easily be squashed if you fumble while ordering. Don't feel bad if this has happened to you, there are quite a few terms to learn to be able to order this drink with the same ease and confidence as 007.
First, the basics. A martini is a simple cocktail of gin and vermouth -- with a general proportion of one part dry vermouth to four parts gin, depending on the type you're making; it's usually garnished with a green olive or a lemon peel. The cocktail's origin is a bit of a mystery. Some sources credit the introduction of the martini to the town of Martinez, CA, others to Randolph Martine, a New York Judiciary at the turn of the 20th century. Whatever its origins, prohibition is often attributed for this drink's rise popularity due to how easy it was to illegally manufacture gin. With time, the martini's popularity waned in the face of newer cocktails and wine spritzers, but the martini experienced a resurgence in the 1990s and it looks like the cocktail is here to stay -- and it's not hard to understand why.
Don't miss out on this arguably perfect cocktail -- learn the lingo and drink like a pro.
How do you like your martini? Let us know in the comments below!
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Bond drank a vodka martini.
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