The Martini is as classic as cocktails get. Everybody knows it, most people have had one, and any good bar worth its salt can make one. But not all Martinis are the same.
The Dirty Martini is believed to have originated in 1901, when New York bartender John O’Connor found inspiration in the classic’s famous olive garnish. First made by muddling the olive into the drink, and later by adding a splash of olive brine, the Dirty Martini took decades to reach a wide fan base. It eventually found favor among drinkers, including President F.D.R., who served and drank them in the White House. Fast forward to modern day, and the cocktail is equally loved and reviled—ordered en masse by thirsty patrons while simultaneously loathed by some bartenders.
