According to popular mixology lore, the modern Dry Martini (popularized by Ian Flemming’s James Bond series, or the drink of choice for a Wall Street business lunch in the television series Mad Men) began to replace the original version of the Martini sometime in the early 1900’s. Created first in Martinez, California in the late 1800’s, the original Martini pour was a 2:1 ratio of gin to dry vermouth. Sometime after the 1920’s, in response to more refined distilling processes, the proportion of gin to vermouth increased and the martini became “drier”. Today’s Dry Martini highlights the wide variety of refined gins that are available on the market and accordingly, the ratio of gin to vermouth has increased to 5 or 8:1 gin to dry vermouth, and among some Martini aficionados, simply opening a bottle of vermouth near your Martini provides the perfect balance of gin to vermouth. Not surprisingly, now the original Martini is called a Wet Martini. The Very Wet Hot and Dirty Martini is actually more a 50/50 Martini (1:1) that serves the purpose of a delicious aperitif highlighting the juniper and botanical notes of gin, balanced with an equal pour of a quality dry vermouth, made “dirty” with a few drops of savory brine of olives or capers and spicy heat from bottled peperoncini peppers, garnished with one or two olives of your choice to arouse the taste buds and prepare your guests for the meal to follow. Cheers!

Ingredients:
1 serving

• 1.5 ounces good quality gin like Beefeater, Fords, Bombay Saphire, or Tanqueray

• 1.5 ounces good quality dry vermouth like Dolin, Noilly Pratt, Carpano

• 1-2 teaspoons olive or caper brine (to taste)

• 1 teaspoon brine from bottled peperoncini peppers

• 2-3 drops of fresh lemon juice

Method:
In a bartender shaker or tall glass, combine the ingredients with a few ice cubes. Stir to chill. You don’t have to shake it which will water down your wonderful Very Wet, Hot, and Dirty Martini. Garnish with Stuffed Queen Olives or a twist of lemon peel.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-martinis
https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1121/martini/martini-history