The Martini

Sophisticated, evocative, and delicious, the martini will never go out of style. Appearing in countless movies-for example, any one of the Bond films-it's one of the most popular and well-known cocktails of all time. Making a martini is simplicity personified, the classic recipe requiring just two ingredients (not counting the garnish): gin and vermouth. And now man-about-town Matt Hranek is here to tell us everything we need to know about the iconic cocktail. Like Hranek's The Negroni, The Martini will give readers insight into the drink's nineteenth-century-origins, as well as the tools for making 35 simple variations of the drink-a combination of recipes from the author, recipes from experts/bartenders around the world, and iconic versions that any martini fanatic needs to have on hand. Included are the author's own version, always with gin (never vodka), served ice cold and dry with a twist of lemon (or, on very rare occasions, like when he is hungry, an olive); the Martinez (circa 1849), named for the city of Martinez about 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, where some say this all began; a lime martini, a nod to Hranek's father, who loved a gin and tonic; and New York City legend Russ & Daughters Cafe's own martinis, "The Lower East Side" and "The Smoked Martini." There will be details on ingredients, methods (to shake or to stir?), garnish, equipment, glassware; where to get the best martini around the world, and more. Beautiful original and archival photography make this an irresistible gift for anyone who loves to enjoy a martini.

Sophisticated, evocative, and delicious, the martini will never go out of style. Appearing in countless movies-for example, any one of the Bond films-it's one of the most popular and well-known cocktails of all time. Making a martini is simplicity personified, the classic recipe requiring just two ingredients (not counting the garnish): gin and vermouth. And now man-about-town Matt Hranek is here to tell us everything we need to know about the iconic cocktail. Like Hranek's The Negroni, The Martini will give readers insight into the drink's nineteenth-century-origins, as well as the tools for making 35 simple variations of the drink-a combination of recipes from the author, recipes from experts/bartenders around the world, and iconic versions that any martini fanatic needs to have on hand. Included are the author's own version, always with gin (never vodka), served ice cold and dry with a twist of lemon (or, on very rare occasions, like when he is hungry, an olive); the Martinez (circa 1849), named for the city of Martinez about 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, where some say this all began; a lime martini, a nod to Hranek's father, who loved a gin and tonic; and New York City legend Russ & Daughters Cafe's own martinis, "The Lower East Side" and "The Smoked Martini." There will be details on ingredients, methods (to shake or to stir?), garnish, equipment, glassware; where to get the best martini around the world, and more. Beautiful original and archival photography make this an irresistible gift for anyone who loves to enjoy a martini.

" Positively paradigmatic…The writing is crisply clever but, at the same time so warmly engaging and witty…the photography is rapturously beautiful. I absolutely love this book. " – Nigella Lawson " When it's Martini Hour, you need a guide and there is no one better than Alice Lascelles. " – Jay Rayner It’s almost 150 years since someone had the idea of mixing dry vermouth and gin – and yet the Martini is now more popular than it’s ever been. What’s behind this simple drink’s enduring success? And can perfection be reached, with a recipe so renowned, yet as personal as how you take your tea… In The Martini, award-winning journalist, Financial Times columnist and cocktail expert Alice Lascelles goes on a deep-dive into one her favourite drinks – one that’s bewitched bartenders, artists, authors, film-makers and barflies for more than a century. Over the course of 60 recipes, she charts the Martini’s journey from the smoky saloons of 1880s New York to the hottest cocktail joints of the 21st century. Discover old-time Martini twists like the Flame of Love and the Tuxedo in the section on Vintage drinks, or turn to Honorary for fun and fruity updates on Lychee and Espresso Martinis. The Classic section, which covers the likes of the Dry Martini, the Vesper and the Gibson, will delight Martini purists, while the Contemporary chapter showcases new-wave Martini recipes from some of the world’s top mixologists. Peppered with anecdotes from the drink’s rich history and Alice’s travels round the world in search of the ultimate recipe, The Martini voyages from the speakeasies of Tokyo and the dive bars of Brooklyn to the swankiest hotels of St James’s. Discover the best Martini to pair with oysters; explore variations infused with olive oil, shiso and jasmine tea; find out why your most important tool is your freezer; and the real reason James Bond liked a shaken, not stirred, Martini. If you don’t know what your perfect Martini looks like, then this book will help you find it. And if you do , then its mix of tips, tricks and trade secrets will almost certainly help you to improve it. Crisply-designed and illustrated with stunning colour photography, The Martini is a stylish, fun and fascinating guide to one of the cocktail world’s most enduring classics. BBC Food Programme Drinks Book of the Year 2024 Financial Times Best Books 2024 Wall Street Journal Best Cocktail Books 2024 The Telegraph Best Books for Wine Lovers 2024 Saveur Best Cook Books 2024 Hot Dinners Best Food & Drinks Books 2024

" Positively paradigmatic…The writing is crisply clever but, at the same time so warmly engaging and witty…the photography is rapturously beautiful. I absolutely love this book. "– Nigella Lawson " When it's Martini Hour, you need a guide and there is no one better than Alice Lascelles. " – Jay Rayner It’s almost 150 years since someone had the idea of mixing dry vermouth and gin – and yet the Martini is now more popular than it’s ever been. What’s behind this simple drink’s enduring success? And can perfection be reached, with a recipe so renowned, yet as personal as how you take your tea… In The Martini, award-winning journalist, Financial Times columnist and cocktail expert Alice Lascelles goes on a deep-dive into one her favourite drinks –one that’s bewitched bartenders, artists, authors, film-makers and barflies for more than a century. Over the course of 60 recipes, she charts the Martini’s journey from the smoky saloons of 1880s New York to the hottest cocktail joints of the 21st century. Discover old-time Martini twists like the Flame of Love and the Tuxedo in the section on Vintage drinks, or turn to Honorary for fun and fruity updates on Lychee and Espresso Martinis. The Classic section, which covers the likes of the Dry Martini, the Vesper and the Gibson, will delight Martini purists, while the Contemporary chapter showcases new-wave Martini recipes from some of the world’s top mixologists. Peppered with anecdotes from the drink’s rich history and Alice’s travels round the world in search of the ultimate recipe, The Martini voyages from the speakeasies of Tokyo and the dive bars of Brooklyn to the swankiest hotels of St James’s. Discover the best Martini to pair with oysters; explore variations infused with olive oil, shiso and jasmine tea; find out why your most important tool is your freezer; and the real reason James Bond liked a shaken, not stirred, Martini. If you don’t know what your perfect Martini looks like, then this book will help you find it. And if you do , then its mix of tips, tricks and trade secrets will almost certainly help you to improve it. Crisply-designed and illustrated with stunning colour photography, The Martini is a stylish, fun and fascinating guide to one of the cocktail world’s most enduring classics. BBC Food Programme Drinks Book of the Year 2024 Financial Times Best Books 2024 Wall Street Journal Best Cocktail Books2024 The Telegraph Best Books for Wine Lovers 2024 Saveur Best Cook Books 2024 Hot Dinners Best Food & Drinks Books 2024