Martini Culture: the 1966 Martini standard code
What is a martini? Martini drinkers have very different views on this. On one side the purists: no vodka (that will be a vodkatini, or a Kangaroo), precise proportions, straight-flavoured gin, and absolutely no shaking. In a nutshell: for a purist the favourite drink of James bond is NOT a Martini. On the other, the …
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Gin Fizz, Bilbao
Confirming the fact that you do not have to search for the best bar since the best bar will find you, the Gin Fizz cocktail bar is exactly in front of the apartment that I rented for a few days this summer in Bilbao. According to local cocktail drinkers I have checked with, this is …
Zuta Bar, Jerusalem
Admittedly one of the best cocktail bars in Jerusalem, the Zuta was a great discovery, for its very relaxed athmosphere combined with a very high quality of food (the bar is annexed to a restaurant that seems veery good), drinks and service. We sat at the bar and had the time to chat with bartender …
Martini gadgets: the Martini Stones
In the golden age of Martinis (1950s and 1960s), a number of fantastic gadgets were invented to help preparing Martinis, typically aiming to make sure Martinis were as dry as possible (at that time the quest for the driest possible drink had started already). Some of these gadgets exist still today, such as the Vermouth …
Legendary Bars: The Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel, Paris
This is the first of a series of posts dedicated to the most legendary martini bars on the planet. No surprise I'll start with what is now called "The Hemingway Bar" at the Ritz Hotel in Place Vendome in Paris. Bar Hemingway Photos At The Ritz Hotel To understand why this bar is a legend, …
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Martini drinkers: James Salter
American writer James Salter is a Martini hero. He used to enjoyed an exquisitely made martini cocktail every night and, long before he died in 2015 at the age of 90, estimated he had drunk 8,700 martinis in his life. In his book Life is Meals: A Food Lover’s Book of Days, Salter lays out …
Casa Martini, Pessione, Torino
Close to Torino, Casa Martini is the museum of Martini & Rossi, with great historical pieces, artwork, and memorabilia. You can take a tour of the factory, which is the only place where all the Martini vermouth sold globally is produced! And, after the museum and the factory tour, you can attend a cocktail training …
Foscolo Bar, Matino
A Martini in Matino is a Matini? Foscolo is a cocktail bar and a restaurant in Matino, a beautiful tiny village in Salento, Puglia, Italy. If you don't know what Salento is, that is one of the greatest spots in Italy (tip: avoid going in August) with plenty of old villages, great seaside, and all …
Bar Boheme Mixology, Catania
Ice cube engraved with the bar logo The Bar Boheme has no cocktail menu, by choice. A very smart and cocktail-educated waiter starts by asking about your tastes and preferences, and designs the cocktail on the spot with you. And the result is simply perfect! On the classics side, things are equally good: I dared …
The Martini Hour 