/ck/ - Food & Cooking

The first martini cocktail recipe in print (1891) featured tom gin, which is a slightly sweeter version of a London dry style gin, and also sweet (Italian) vermouth wine as the sweetener, and orange bitters.

Here's the recipe:

Martini Cocktail

Set out a mixing glass (a pint glass will work). Add:

>2 dashes (1/4 tsp) orange bitters (Angostura)
>1-1/3 oz [40ml] tom gin (Hayman's Old Tom Gin)
>2/3 oz [20ml] traditional vermouth (Dolin Rouge Vermouth de Chambéry)

Fill glass at least 2/3 full with ice (smaller cubes of about 3/4” per side work best)

Stir for at least 30 seconds to mix and chill-dilute without letting aeration bruise the velvet of the liquor.

Strain into a chilled cocktail goblet (around 4.5 oz, Libbey 3770 is a good one) and garnish with a lemon zest with minimal pith, cut about 1” x 3”, twisting zest-side-down over the drink to express the oil, rubbed on the rim and put into the drink.