Top 10 activations for World Martini Day
Next week (19 June) is World Martini Day, and whether you’re planning to celebrate at a bar or at home, these brands have something special for you.
Gin or vodka, olive or lemon, shaken or stirred – however you take yours, make sure your glass is chilled and getting ready to sip. Whether you’re a die-hard purist or a curious newcomer, spirits brands and on-trade venues are getting ready for the big day.
Here are 10 Martini-related serves, events and campaigns we’ve got our eye on.
The Martini Boutique by No.3 Gin
How you take your Martini is a deeply personal choice – there’s no right or wrong (though we might judge you a little if you’re drinking yours lukewarm). But if you haven’t quite figured out which is your favourite, No.3 London Dry Gin will be able to help you out.
The brand is running a ‘Martini Fitting Experience’ at Electric Space London from 17-21 June. For £25 (US$34) per person, experts will explore the key decisions behind every great Martini, including dilution, method, ratio and garnish. Each session ends with a bespoke serve, designed precisely for you.
And, if you already know how you’re taking it, the activation will also see bar teams from across the UK serving up their interpretations.
Four Pillars Martini Collective
Australian brand Four Pillars has shaken up the gin category in so many ways, but this month it’s focusing on its Olive Leaf Gin. It claims it’s the best gin for a Martini, and to prove it, it launched the Four Pillars Martini Collective: a group of bars and restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne that will be serving mini Martinis alongside a snack.
Sydney’s Chophouse is going super fancy with Wagyu salami with onion jam, pickle pepper and crostini, while Melbourne’s Lui Bar is keeping it simple and classic with a Sydney Rock oyster.
Free Martinis at Archive & Myth
The best Martini is a free Martini – which is why we imagine many Londoners will be heading to Archive & Myth in Leicester Square on 21 June. The cocktail bar, led by Jack Sotti, will be offering a complimentary Martini Mineraux with every booking. It’s made with Renais Gin, limestone, Chablis and lemon oils, and is presented as a tiny serve. That way, you can enjoy another cocktail alongside… Though that could just be a full-size Martini, if you want.
Martini della Penisola
Is any piece of glassware as iconic as the Martini glass? We’re in love with its elegance and simplicity, and the version from newly launched glassware brand Nude is no exception. Giorgio Bargiani of The Connaught Bar is behind Nude, and they’ve teamed up with gin brand Portofino to create a serve to match. For their Martini, they blend 50ml of La Penisola with 15ml Sherry Fino Lustau, 5ml Vergano Vermouth, and green olives to garnish.
Martini Icons by Belvedere Vodka and Maison Assouline
Belvedere Vodka is elevating its Martini celebrations from the bar to the gallery. In partnership with Maison Assouline and master mixologist Agostino Perrone, Martini Icons is a photography exhibition that explores the enduring cultural magnetism of the cocktail – not just as a drink, but as a symbol of elegance, identity and cinematic cool.
The exhibition runs from 13-20 June at Maison Assouline’s London flagship store and features 10 photos captured by Perrone. Plus, visitors can enjoy a Belvedere 10 Martini while they peruse.
Philly-tini Olives
A blue-cheese olive is one of our favourite Martini garnishes, but we know they can be a little funky for some. Those who are less adventurous in the cheese world can celebrate in style this year, as cream cheese brand Philadelphia has partnered with olive purveyor Divina to create pre-stuffed garnishes.
The launch sold out pretty much immediately, but Divina has promised further limited drops next week. Get online early if you want to bag some.
Martini Station at The K Bar, London
For a touch of old-school glamour and modern refinement, The K Bar in London’s Kensington hotel is debuting a Martini Station – an elegant mobile trolley that brings tableside theatrics to this timeless cocktail.
The K Bar’s expert bartenders will wheel it over and prepare a Martini to your exact taste, with vodka options including Sipsmith, Konik’s Tail and Silent Pool. For those looking for a twist, the Knickerbocker features both dry and sweet vermouth, while the Gin Dubonnet ‘nods to British tradition’.
Second Sip
Look, we love Martinis, but they are strong. Mini Martinis, are of course, a fantastic alternative for anyone wanting to take in less alcohol, but sometimes only a full-sized serve will suffice.
That’s where Second Sip comes in – it’s a 20% ABV ‘gin’ specifically designed to hold up in a Martini. You might be sceptical, but it’s worth noting that it has been created by Hepple Gin creator Nick Strangeway and bar director Leo Robitschek – the latter of whom has just created an entire menu based on Martinis. These guys know what they’re doing.
Quinary’s Earl Grey Caviar Martini
Hong Kong bar Quinary is famous for – among other things – its Earl Grey Caviar Martini, which is made with Cointreau, Ketel One vodka and elderflower syrup, and topped with Earl Grey tea caviar and Earl Grey tea air. This year, however, guests can take home a version of the cocktail in a special brick toy set.
Only 200 sets were made – and they’ve sadly all sold out before the big day. But we think it’s worth heading to the bar to sample the real thing anyway.
Galaxy Bar Dubai
When you think of iconic Martini destinations, many are in London: Duke’s, the Connaught, Vesper Bar. But, if you’re a little further afield, you can rejoice. This year, the team from the Donovan Bar – which is led by Salvatore Calabrese, the inventor of the Breakfast Martini – will be heading to Dubai’s Galaxy Bar. As part of its 12 Stars takeover series, London-based Federico Pavan and Alessandro Vescovi will be stirring (and shaking) Martinis for one night only.
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