Gin & It

Serve in an

Garnish:

Orange slice (if served straight-up use a lemon zest twist)

How to make:

STIR all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass.

Review:

Remembering both vermouth and gin are flavoured with similar botanicals, they obviously have an affinity for each other. This drink may be simple but made with a full-bodied Vermouth di Torino it's a fabulously tasty combination of botanicals, wine and spirit.

Variant:

This drink's aromatics are perhaps better appreciated when served straight-up in a coupe.

History:

"It" is short for Italian, a reference to the 'sweet' (rosso) vermouth, which was traditionally Italian while French vermouth was dry.

In his 2002 Craft of the Cocktail, Dale DeGroff states that the Gin and IT was originally known as a Sweet Martini and as such was a popular drink during the 1880s and 1890s at the Hoffman House and other Manhattan bars. Later it became known as 'Gin & Italian', until during Prohibition it was shortened to 'Gin & It'.

During American Prohibition, The Gin & It made its way to London, where due to the British love of gin, the Gin & It became a popular drink and pub staple. Its popularity waned with both that of vermouth and gin in the late 1980s but is now enjoying a renaissance with a new generation of gin and vermouth drinkers.

Nutrition:

One serving of Gin & It contains 162 calories.

Alcohol content:

• 1.6 standard drinks
• 24.57% alc./vol. (49.14° proof)
• 22.2 grams of pure alcohol