gin and it: the recipe for a gin and italian cocktail drink

Gin and It is one of the oldest martini drinks dating back to the 19th century in some ways. The drink used to be called the Sweet Vermouth Martini till about the early part of 20th century.

Gin and It is short for Gin and Italian. The Italian here stands as a reference to the Italian Sweet Vermouth. There are some variations of the drink which uses bitters. I prefer to call the variations that use bitters as the Sweet Vermouth martini. This recipe does not use bitters. The drink is always served up in a martini glass with no ice. It is not to be served over ice as many other cocktail drinks can be.

Ingredients

  • 2 shots of Gin
  • 1 shot of Italian Sweet Vermouth
  • Lemon Peel to garnish

Preparation/Recipe

  1. Fill a martini shaker with ice cubes
  2. Pour 2 shots of Gin into the shaker
  3. Pour 1 shot of Italian Sweet Vermouth into the shaker
  4. Shake well to mix the ingredients
  5. Strain the contents of the shaker into a chilled martini glass
  6. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Gin and Italian Martini

Variations and Similar Drinks

Sweet Vermouth Martini: This is a very similar drink. It is often attributed with the same ingredients and considered as a different name for Gin and It. I prefer to make Sweet Vermouth martini with the addition of couple dashes of bitters.
Manhattan: The Gin in this recipe is substituted with Bourbon whiskey or Rye Whiskey. Also, couple of dashes of the bitters is essential in Manhattan.

Tips

  • You can garnish with an orange peel or not garnish at all, depending on your preference.
  • Alter the proportions to suit your taste. You can go for a 1 to 1 ratio, if you prefer the drink to be sweeter. You can also try a 3 to 1 ratio for a stronger drink.
  • Do not confuse Gin and It with Gin and Tonic, which is sometimes called Gin and T.