Tuesday Trivia Tie in #21 Martini Glass

Welcome to Tuesday Trivia Tie-in, where I invite and encourage everyone to join, with a post about something they find interesting.

My posts are usually about one of the ties in my collection, but yours can be about anything!I only ask that you include some little known information that relates to your topic.

Today's tie is one of the ties I got in my bargain adventure at the indoor flea market back in January, that started this whole thing. You can read about that here.

It is a Ralph Marlin Design, from 1997, the height of the wild design on neckties era. It is titled simply: Martini Glass. It's pretty easy to see how it got its' name:


Being raised in a non-drinking environment, alcohol was foreign to me until recently, and, I have to admit that I have never developed a fondness for a martini, but I did find some information that you may find interesting.

The true history of the martini is a mystery!

There are differing arguments as to who was the first to create the Martini.
Many who claim or have been reported to have created the first Martini have varying recipes and names; none of which exactly fit the Martini recipe that exists today.

The modern day Dry Martini consists of Gin and a varying amount of dry white Vermouth (season to taste). An olive, a twist, or a cocktail onion are all acceptable as a garnish.

The most detailed historical claim begins with a cocktail named the Martinez which was created around 1862. This particular drink of the time called for 4 parts red, sweet Vermouth to 1 part Gin, garnished with a cherry. The first version included aromatic bitters and Old Tom Gin, which was very sweet and incorporated a strong Juniper flavor. The transformation into what is considered a modern Martini happened gradually. First the Old Tom Gin was replaced with London Dry. Orange Bitters took the place of the aromatic bitters. Aficionados began to replace the red Vermouth with a white, dry Vermouth. The proportions of the drink eventually became equal parts and soon the Dry Martini appeared, olive included.

If you don't like that story, here are some more:


In 1870 at Julio Richelieu's saloon in Martinez, California a small drink was mixed for visiting miner. Julio placed an olive in the glass before handing it to the man, then named it after his town. Martinez, California continues to hold claim as the birth place of the Martini.


There is a story that claims the drinks name came from the Martini and Henry rifle used by the British army in 1871. The hook was that both the rifle and the drink "shared a strong kick."

1888, was the magical year that the word Martini was first mentioned. Martini appeared in the "New and Improved Illustrated Bartending Manual."


Regardless of the true origin, the quest for the perfect Martini will no doubt continue. Martini bars continue to hit the scene -- and variations of the Martini abound. In the new millennium, it seems that anything presented in a Martini glass is considered to be a Martini.

So, if someone invites you to join them for a Ben and Jerry's Chocolate and Cream Martini, don't stop and question whether or not it is really a martini, just grab a spoon and enjoy!


I'll take whipped cream on mine!

Now it's your turn, add you link below, Be sure and link to your post and not your main blog and join me each Tuesday for Tuesday Trivia Tie-in, where readers are invited to share trivia and show off their treasures.