1• A martini should contain gin, not vodka, and for a garnish you’ll probably find a lemon twist tastes better than an olive.
2• (Meaning yes, James Bond is wrong to ask for his martinis shaken.)
3• Fancy cocktail bars use such big ice cubes because it melts slower, thanks to a smaller surface-to-volume ratio. (That being said, there’s certainly evidence that this nugget of scientific wisdom, common among bartenders, is exaggerated.)
4• Sherry, vermouth, port and madeira are all varieties of wine. When opened, you keep them in the fridge to preserve flavour. (That crusty old vermouth bottle on your bar? It’s stale. Pitch it.)
[Cough] You’ll learn all of these things and more in my book, Drinks: A User’s Guide
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