NOTE: Martini Is The Name Of A Drink, Not A Category

While I'm on the topic of common misconceptions in contemporary American culture...

I went to a wedding reception last weekend which featured a martini bar. To me, that's bottles of gin, vodka and vermouth with a couple lemons and a jar of olives. These items were relegated to the bottom of the placard as, "traditional martinis also available," right below the appletini, chocolate martini, cosmo, lemondrop, etc, etc, etc.

Let’s clarify: PUTTING A COCKTAIL IN A MARTINI GLASS DOES NOT MAKE IT A MARTINI.

It seems that of late, any cocktail that is composed entirely of alcohol, more or less translucent and served in a martini glass is getting a “-tini” tacked on the end or being called a (descriptive noun) Martini. Just call it a cocktail.

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Good radio show about the recent cocktail revival/renaissance on KQED:
Download (mp3)