In this article, Emma Janzen explores the story and the contemporary role of bitters within Martinis, concluding that “bitters have not secured a definitive role in the modern Martini”. And the conversation goes on here. Initially, bitters were a staple in Martini recipes, but the trend diminished post-Prohibition as bartending simplified, leading to a bitters-less Martini becoming the norm. The authors, referencing cocktail historians and famous bartenders, discuss the resurgence of bitters in the early 2000s within the broader trend towards customization and personal preference in cocktail-making. The question is: since bitters surely can add something to your Martini, why are they often forgotten? Bitters conspiracy?
The Martini Hour 