THE MARTINI

When it s Martini Hour you need a guide and there is no one better than Alice Lascelles Jay Rayner It s almost 150 years since someone had the idea of mixing dry vermouth and gin and yet the Martini is now more popular than it s ever been What s behind this simple drink s enduring success And can perfection be reached with a recipe so renowned yet as personal as how you take your tea In The Martini award winning journalist Financial Times columnist and cocktail expert Alice Lascelles goes on a deep dive into one her favourite drinks one that s bewitched bartenders artists authors film makers and barflies for more than a century Over the course of 60 recipes she charts the Martini s journey from the smoky saloons of 1880s New York to the hottest cocktail joints of the 21st century Discover old time Martini twists like the Flame of Love and the Tuxedo in the section on Vintage drinks or turn to Honorary for fun and fruity updates on Lychee and Espresso Martinis The Classic section which covers the likes of the Dry Martini the Vesper and the Gibson will delight Martini purists while the Contemporary chapter showcases new wave Martini recipes from some of the world s top mixologists Peppered with anecdotes from the drink s rich history and Alic