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Epicurious

Original Martini

By Albert Stevens Crockett

3.6

(7)

Image may contain Drink Cocktail Alcohol Beverage and Martini
Original MartiniSara Bonisteel at <a href="http://fortdefiancebrooklyn.com/">Fort Defiance</a>

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month.

The original Martini, which is made with sweet Italian vermouth, sugar syrup, and orange bitters, lost out to the type made with just dry French vermouth, but it is still an excellent drink. This recipe, adapted from the estimable The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book (1935) by Albert Stevens Crockett, calls for Old Tom Gin, which is sweeter than dry gin. Since Old Tom isn't easy to find nowadays, we've substituted a combination of dry gin and simple syrup.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces London dry gin
1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth, preferably Noilly Prat
1 dash orange bitters
1 teaspoon simple syrup
Small piece lemon peel
Green olive for garnish

Preparation

  1. In mixing glass or cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine gin, vermouth, bitters, and simple syrup. Stir well, about 20 seconds, then strain into cocktail coupe or martini glass. Twist lemon peel directly over drink to release essential oils, garnish with green olive, and serve.

TagsCocktailAlcoholBeveragesMartiniVermouthGinQuickEasy30 Minutes or LessNo-CookEpicurious

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