Martini Cocktails Distilled: The History of Your Favorite Cocktail

Behold the Vodka Martini Cocktail, the most personal of all cocktails – a drink truly made to taste. Shaken or stirred, dry or wet, olive or twist, the options are endless. Like all classics it has contestable origins.

What is certain, though, is the Vodka Martini Cocktail becomes an icon of the silver screen. Some of the most dangerous and seductive on film are seen drinking it. 10 years after its appearance in David Embury’s 1948 book, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, the Vodka Martini Cocktail was catapulted into the limelight.

The 1950s: Martini Cocktails Are Shaken, Not Stirred

Before its silver screen appearance, the Martini Cocktail was featured in the 1958 book Dr. No by Ian Fleming. While the seductive lead spy insisting on a Martini Cocktail that’s “shaken not stirred” is now sneered at by those in the know, it was a high profile example of how you could order a Martini Cocktail to your taste.

And regardless of his preference, he helped vodka gain even greater appeal.

The 1970s: The Flame of Love

Meanwhile, bartenders continued to innovate, inspired by the growing demand for vodka. According to Difford’s Guide for Discerning Drinkers, the story of the Flame of Love is about as Hollywood as it gets. Created at Dean Martin’s request, it’s an iconic drink with a dash of theatre. It was purportedly such a hit that Frank Sinatra once ordered a round for everyone in the now closed Chasen’s restaurant – around 200 drinks!

The 1980s: The OG Martini Cocktail

Although we aren’t sure exactly where the first martini cocktail was made, we can tell you the ingredients were definitely different from today. The original martini cocktails were made with Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, bitters and a little bit of maraschino liqueur.

The ’80s + ’90s: Adding Some Flavor

In the ’80s and ’90s flavor was king. This is where we saw the birth of some phenomenal classic cocktails such as the iconic Espresso Martini Cocktail, the Cosmopolitan and more. We also saw vodkas becoming more and more premium as bartenders started treating vodka with a newfound respect. Toward the end of the ’90s Grey Goose entered the market, creating an entire new approach to vodka making centered around taste.

Present Day: Varieties Abound

Today you can find martini cocktails in all shapes, flavors and sizes. Now they even come perfectly balanced in a ready to serve bottle. So whether you like it simple or amazingly complex, we know one thing’s for sure – the Martini Cocktail is here to stay. There’s even a National Martini Cocktail Day. Grey Goose Vodka is the perfect match for such an iconic drink. Check out some of our favorite Grey Goose Martini Cocktails.