An Iconic Cocktail Cocktail
There can be no more recognisable cocktail than a martini. Yes, it’s the glass that gives it away; and now we have a neat little volume, The Martini: Perfection in a Glass, to guide us through the combinations of ingredients to make a delicious selection of martinis.
Author Matt Hranek has penned this gift-quality book which will be welcomed by home cocktail-mixers as well as professionals. There are 35 martinis to try, so a wide spectrum of profiles, something for every taste. The photography makes these cocktails look so tempting and it’s good to see that many of them use glasses other than the traditional stemmed V. No, dear reader, you are not obliged to fork out for new glassware – although it does add a little flair to one’s sipping.
There has been a revival of cocktail appreciation. It started a couple of decades ago when a new generation was introduced to the delights of well-crafted drinks. Martinis are iconic and owe as much to James Bond as they do to expert bartenders. The Vester is a must-have when visiting my favourite London bar, Dukes. There is a limit of two per person! The book gives plenty of background to these bars, putting the drinks into context.
There are so many classic cocktails here. The Martinez from the mid-1800s is still a favourite with martini aficionados. The Savoy offers dry, medium and sweet versions of the classic martini. The Gimlet is my go-to martini. It’s perfect for the ‘sour’ lovers. The Espresso Martini has become popular – for its visual appeal as well as its taste.
The Martini: Perfection in a Glass offers details on ingredients, mixing methods, garnish, equipment and glassware to enable the enthusiastic reader to master the included cocktails and to gain confidence to tweak those to their own taste. If you want to taste these cocktails on the very spot where they were invented, then there is a list of bars to visit.
The Martini: Perfection in a Glass
Author: Matt Hranek
Published by: Artisan Division of Workman Publishing
Price £12.99
ISBN-13: 978-1579659639