I cannot seem to write about festive food or holiday parties without including one more martini. Then I go to my favorite martini book, called The Martini, by Barnaby Conrad III for inspiration. I agree with Barnaby who said “The martini was and still is more than just a cocktail.”

Here is the first documented recipe for what was called the Marguerite cocktail in 1896 by Thomas Stuart

Marguerite Cocktail
Ingredients

1 dash of orange bitters
2/3 Plymouth gin
1/3 French vermouth

Method

Stir gently with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.

They still make it this way in many of the old classic bars in London, England. I prefer mine with less vermouth.