Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini - Softcover

Miller, Anistatia R.; Jared M. Brown

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062734881 ISBN 13: 9780062734884

Publisher: Avon A, 1997

Synopsis

This first-of-its-kind volume features 40 ways to make a classic martini, 60 nouveau concoctions and a directory of the world's best martini lounges. Here, readers will discover the finer points of gin versus vodka, olive versus twist, shaken versus stirred, as well as brands of liquor, ratios of ingredients and every facet of this highly ritualized and specific cocktail. Also included are looks at and recipes for the weird and wonderful new offspring of the martini renaissance: chocolate and espresso martinis, the Cajun Combustion Engine, Martini Navratilova, Very Berry Martini, Pasini Express, Berlin Station Chief and many more. With sidebars featuring quotes from literature, toasts and historical points of interest, plus photos recalling great martini moments in film, politics, culture and advertising, Shaken Not Stirred is a fabulous celebration of a classic and very au courant international tradition.

About this title

About the Author

Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown are the authors of Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini and run the award-winning Shaken Not Stirred website.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

TOP SHELF
The Rise and Refinement
of the Classic Martini

The Top Ten Alleged Martini Inventors
1.J.P.A. Martini, Paris, France, 1763
2.Parker's Saloon, Boston, MA, 1850
3.Professor Jerry Thomas, Martinez, CA, 1852 (or San Francisco, CA, 1860)
4.Harry Johnson, New York, NY, 1860
5.Heublein Company, Hartford, CT, 1894
6.Martini & Rossi, Turin, Italy, 1890
7.The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London, UK, 1910
8.Signor Martinez, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, NY, 1910
9.Martini di Taggia, Knickerbocker Hotel, New York, NY, 1910
10.Harry, Harry's New York Bar, Paris, France, 1911

More intellectual duels have been waged over the Martini's origins than for any other cocktail (and just as many feuds over its preparation have parted close allies). However, there is a detente. All factions mutually agree, Martinis must be made and presented with style. Traditions die hard, and we're grateful that this singular golden rule is the point of difference between the drink known as the "elixir of quietude" and other alcoholic beverages, like shooters, coolers, umbrella drinks, and Jell-O(R) shots.
As in any rite of passage, neophytes must prepare for the initiation that takes them from the adolescent world of keg parties to the refinement of the Martini. Elders of this growing sect are well versed in the enigmatic questions of mixology; they faithfully practice the prescribed rituals both in public and private. They revere the drink's champions. They tell tales that have been passed down from generation to generation about the Martini's origins and its rise to elegance. They share the names and locations of sophisticated Martini shrines they've discovered along the way.
Martini Zen
The Art of Fine Mixology
See, in mixing, the important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan, you shake to fox trot time; a Bronx
to two-step time. But a Martini, you always shake to waltz time.
-Nick Charles,
The Thin Man
Nora Charles:
How many drinks have you had?
Nick Charles:
This will make six Martinis.
Nora Charles:
[to the waiter] All right. Will you bring me five more Martinis, Leo? Line them right up here.
-The Thin Man




The last time someone proffered a spirit in a plastic bottle near me,
I waited until it was empty, brandished it
in front of the cretin - who'd completely forgotten by this time that it wasn't a genuine glass bottle - and discreetly whacked him over the head with it. After he realized he wasn't dead, he spent the rest of the evening over-using the same gag on anyone who'd stand still long enough.


The one who drives
When he's been drinking
Depends on you
To do his thinking.
-Burma Shave roadside sign from the 1930s.
Key to Icons

Stir. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Add ingredients, and stir contents for at least 15 seconds. Strain and pour.

Shake. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Add ingredients, affix lid, and shake for at least 8 seconds or until it's too cold to hold. Strain and pour.

Let stand (aka: an in/out). Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Add ingredients, affix lid, and let mixture stand for at least 15 seconds and up to 3 minutes. Strain and pour.

Garnishes.

Special tips or mixing hints.

Variations.

Toasts.

So you already know how to make a darn good Martini. Frankly, that's not good enough. You want to make the best Martini that ever graced the inner curve of a thoroughly chilled long-stemmed cocktail glass. You don't just want a Perfect Martini (see page 52); you want Martini perfection! No? It's your first time, and you just want your date-who's arriving for cocktails in ten minutes-to believe that you've made a Martini before? Either way, read on!
The first thing to realize is that there are very few components to a Martini. There are the ingredients: gin (or vodka), vermouth (or its replacement), garnish, and ice. Then there's the equipment: a cocktail shaker or mixing glass and stirring spoon, long-stemmed glasses, and swizzle sticks or toothpicks. That's it. So it's through the proper manipulation and balance of these few items that you're going to produce liquid satin instead of a drink that'll leave you licking stamps just to get the taste out of your mouth. This, young Grasshopper, is Martini Zen.

Edition details

• Publisher: Avon A
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062734881
• ISBN 13: 9780062734884
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160