The Martini Conclusion

I hope that this little ramble about one of my favourite drinks has entertained you, and maybe even educated a few of you. For those of you out there who know your craft, you have my respect and admiration. Although not large in number, there are those of us who have read countless opinions and articles about the martini. And as these people will know, I have only scratched the surface of what can be said about this little drink.

Others of you will have read this nodding slowly, and others will be frowning deeply because I have contradicted beliefs that were long drummed into them by their trainer. To these people I will simply say, read more and keep an open mind about all that you learn in this industry. There is rarely only one way of doing anything.

To those of you not in the trade, I may not seem any more liberal in my thinking than Hitler was about Poland. So it may surprise you when I tell you that more traditional members of the industry will be reading this as no less than blasphemy for even considering that there is more than one way of making a martini.

Whoever you are, may your water be wet and your martinis dry. And the next time you get one made just right, be sure to thank your bartender and tip him or her well. Now smile, because you have just put two fingers up to all those unchallenging and uncultured ‘alco-pops’, as this is one drink Gordons or anyone else, will never get into a bottle.