The original Gin Martini started as a spin-off from the popular Martinez cocktail which was popular in the 19th century – hence the name, Martini. The Martini, as we know it today, was first served at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City. The original ratio of gin to vermouth started out at about 2 to 1, but has been getting drier ever since. Winston Churchill was of the opinion that passing the cork from the vermouth bottle over the glass of gin was sufficient.

Original Tips from Dan Warner
Everyone thinks they want an ‘extra dry’ Martini, but your drink should be just how you like it, so experiment with different degrees of ‘wetness’ by adding

1/8 tsp of Vermouth to 3 oz. of gin to see what’s cool for you.
1/8 tsp = extra dry ; 1/4 tsp = dry ; 1/2 tsp = wet.

1. Take a frozen martini glass and add a dash of dry vermouth.
2. Top up with ice-cold Beefeater gin.
3. Serve in a martini glass with an olive or cut a strip of lemon peel and snap the outside over the martini glass to zest the surface.