Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini [Paperback]

Anistatia R. Miller (Author), Jared M. Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 1997

This first-of-its-kind volume features 40 ways to make a classic martini, 60 nouveau concoctions and a directory of the world's best martini lounges. Here, readers will discover the finer points of gin versus vodka, olive versus twist, shaken versus stirred, as well as brands of liquor, ratios of ingredients and every facet of this highly ritualized and specific cocktail. Also included are looks at and recipes for the weird and wonderful new offspring of the martini renaissance: chocolate and espresso martinis, the Cajun Combustion Engine, Martini Navratilova, Very Berry Martini, Pasini Express, Berlin Station Chief and many more. With sidebars featuring quotes from literature, toasts and historical points of interest, plus photos recalling great martini moments in film, politics, culture and advertising, Shaken Not Stirred is a fabulous celebration of a classic and very au courant international tradition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown are the authors of Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini and run the award-winning Shaken Not Stirred website at .

Don Gatterdam is director of Custom Publishing for M. Shanken Communications, Inc. (publishers of Wine Spectator, Cigar Aficionado, and Food Arts), and serves on the board of directors for the American Institute of Wine and Food.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

TOP SHELF
The Rise and Refinement
of the Classic Martini

The Top Ten Alleged Martini Inventors
1.J.P.A. Martini, Paris, France, 1763
2.Parker's Saloon, Boston, MA, 1850
3.Professor Jerry Thomas, Martinez, CA, 1852 (or San Francisco, CA, 1860)
4.Harry Johnson, New York, NY, 1860
5.Heublein Company, Hartford, CT, 1894
6.Martini & Rossi, Turin, Italy, 1890
7.The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London, UK, 1910
8.Signor Martinez, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, NY, 1910
9.Martini di Taggia, Knickerbocker Hotel, New York, NY, 1910
10.Harry, Harry's New York Bar, Paris, France, 1911

More intellectual duels have been waged over the Martini's origins than for any other cocktail (and just as many feuds over its preparation have parted close allies). However, there is a detente. All factions mutually agree, Martinis must be made and presented with style. Traditions die hard, and we're grateful that this singular golden rule is the point of difference between the drink known as the "elixir of quietude" and other alcoholic beverages, like shooters, coolers, umbrella drinks, and Jell-O(R) shots.
As in any rite of passage, neophytes must prepare for the initiation that takes them from the adolescent world of keg parties to the refinement of the Martini. Elders of this growing sect are well versed in the enigmatic questions of mixology; they faithfully practice the prescribed rituals both in public and private. They revere the drink's champions. They tell tales that have been passed down from generation to generation about the Martini's origins and its rise to elegance. They share the names and locations of sophisticated Martini shrines they've discovered along the way.
Martini Zen
The Art of Fine Mixology
See, in mixing, the important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan, you shake to fox trot time; a Bronx
to two-step time. But a Martini, you always shake to waltz time.
-Nick Charles,
The Thin Man
Nora Charles:
How many drinks have you had?
Nick Charles:
This will make six Martinis.
Nora Charles:
[to the waiter] All right. Will you bring me five more Martinis, Leo? Line them right up here.
-The Thin Man




The last time someone proffered a spirit in a plastic bottle near me,
I waited until it was empty, brandished it
in front of the cretin - who'd completely forgotten by this time that it wasn't a genuine glass bottle - and discreetly whacked him over the head with it. After he realized he wasn't dead, he spent the rest of the evening over-using the same gag on anyone who'd stand still long enough.


The one who drives
When he's been drinking
Depends on you
To do his thinking.
-Burma Shave roadside sign from the 1930s.
Key to Icons

Stir. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Add ingredients, and stir contents for at least 15 seconds. Strain and pour.

Shake. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Add ingredients, affix lid, and shake for at least 8 seconds or until it's too cold to hold. Strain and pour.

Let stand (aka: an in/out). Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Add ingredients, affix lid, and let mixture stand for at least 15 seconds and up to 3 minutes. Strain and pour.

Garnishes.

Special tips or mixing hints.

Variations.

Toasts.

So you already know how to make a darn good Martini. Frankly, that's not good enough. You want to make the best Martini that ever graced the inner curve of a thoroughly chilled long-stemmed cocktail glass. You don't just want a Perfect Martini (see page 52); you want Martini perfection! No? It's your first time, and you just want your date-who's arriving for cocktails in ten minutes-to believe that you've made a Martini before? Either way, read on!
The first thing to realize is that there are very few components to a Martini. There are the ingredients: gin (or vodka), vermouth (or its replacement), garnish, and ice. Then there's the equipment: a cocktail shaker or mixing glass and stirring spoon, long-stemmed glasses, and swizzle sticks or toothpicks. That's it. So it's through the proper manipulation and balance of these few items that you're going to produce liquid satin instead of a drink that'll leave you licking stamps just to get the taste out of your mouth. This, young Grasshopper, is Martini Zen.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1 edition (April 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062734881
• ISBN-13: 978-0062734884
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shake shake shake, shake shake shake..., December 25, 2002

By 

Brian S. (Orange, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini (Paperback)

...shake your 'tini?

I was pleased to receive this book recently as a gift and couldn't wait to peel back the front cover and begin seeing what it had in stock for me. The book was a perfect companion as I'd just gotten a set of 4 martini glasses and a shaker/strainer and was eager to put them to good use. But since my nose was too buried in this concise little text, I didn't have any need for the hardware yet. Since "Shaken Not Stirred" also offered conventional and more modern drink recipies - in an effective layout - I was perfectly willing to go back to it to look up a couple of drink recipes once I'd read up on my background info on the drink. I feel like I am now a true martini aficianado and much better informed!

The book was put together by the authors of a website by the same name, who launched their site on Halloween of '95. Soon, they had gotten many suggestions to put the book together - and it turned out to be an unqualified hit. There are many reasons to like this book, it's easy to read and the words flow, plus its something I'd want to read more than once. But perhaps my favorite part about this original idea for a book (it purports to be the first bar book expressly dedicated to the martini, and backs it up by research done by the publisher) is that it's not just a recipe book or just a list of bars. In other words, all you probably ever need to know in a tight little package. It was also neat finding out I'd already visited some of their best "martini lounges" in my city within the pages, but was eager to try the places I hadn't heard of. I'd recommend this volume to anyone interested in mixing their own drinks, or even wanting to learn a little bit more behind the whole martini or "Swingers" culture.

Now then, care for a cocktail? ;)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the comprehensive guide to martinis. Great resource, May 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini (Paperback)

I work at a private country club. We hosted a Martini party for our members and used this book as a reference. It was perfect! It made valuable suggestions right down to the music we should play.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, authoritative info on martinis, style, and lore, July 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini (Paperback)

This is an excellent book about Martinis: mixology, preparation, history, style, and their unique place in literature. The guides to preparing each martini and its variations are well written, understandable, and insightful. If you're a James Bond or vodka martini fan, you'll find the information in this book to be top notch. This book also does the best job I've seen of putting the martini into context with other cocktails, and explaining important "dos and don'ts." The history of each martini and its creator makes you feel like you know them personally. You won't feel shy about asking for something unusual, and passing on your favorites to a bartender (without a hint of snootiness). The book's listing of state-by-state martini hotspots is less than complete, it could use a brief description of some rare or unfamiliar ingredients and their sources, and the index could be polished and expanded. Hopefully, these minor detractions will be corrected in th! ! e next printing, but in the mean time, this is a fantastic book for the novice or aficionado.