What is a Cajun Martini?
When the Martini itself first came to print in an 1862 drink mixing guide called The Bon-Vivant’s Companion, written by a bartender at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, the name was “Martinez.” There was less gin and more vermouth that in the cocktail we know today, but the drink gradually moved on to equal proportions, and then 2 parts gin to 1 part dry vermouth just before Prohibition kicked in. By the time the Volstead Act was repealed and WWII had ended, there was very little vermouth in the recipe at all. Arguments then turned to the rightful place of a lemon twist or an olive. Meanwhile, Ian Fleming arrived on the scene in 1960 with James Bond, a British spy who cared not at all for the gin, but preferred vodka instead. While you might want to pause here and debate the merits of Shaken vs. Stirred, it is more relevant that you thank 007 for having given us the Vodka Martini, forerunner to this particular cocktail. The Cajun Martini remains a favorite in New Orleans, especial
