Die Martini Cocktail Kultur

"What is a martini? To many drinkers it can only be one thing: gin and vermouth with either a lemon zest or olive garnish. If this were the case and the boundaries for producing a martini were this rigid then we would not have the variety of "martinis" that we enjoy today.

There are any number of ways to make a classic martini - all depend on personal taste (and how can that be a bad thing?). the trend of calling any drink prepared using gin or vodka as a base and served in a martini cocktail glass a "martini" is, I think, what infuriates the purists.

Just between you and me, I take secret pleasure in defying these sticklers for tradition. Indeed, I go so far to pounce on such dinosaurs with a war cry of "try a Cheesecake Martini on for size!" - less to influence opinion than to check that they are still awake."*

Ben Reed, Bartender, Autor und Weltreisender in Sachen Martini Cocktails.

*Auszug aus Ben Reeds Buch "Martinis", erschienen im Ryland Peters Verlag (USA/England).