"PENMART01" > wrote in message
...
> >baker writes:
>>
>>
>>Perhaps also because they include vodka which with vermouth, as such, is
>>a recognized martini, although not with the history of the gin martini.
>>IIRC, the "vodkatini" as it was originally dubbed, came at least 30 years
>>after the gin martini which is around a hundred years old. If one order
>>simply a "martini" as late as 30-40 years ago, it was usually assumed to
>>be a gin martini. Now, more than likely, it would be assumed to be a
>>vodka martini
>
> When ordering a martini I've never yet (more than 50 years) been asked
> whether
> gin or vodka... only if "up" or "over", and that only recently and
> occasionally
> (perhaps the past ten years) martini 'overs' were unherad of previously,
> perhaps in *** bars... they do everything back-asswards, I hear. Gin is
> always
> the default (as are "ups' if you don't respond otherwise - many barkeeps
> won't
> even ask, unless you say they give you an "up"), it's entirely up to the
> consumer to specify vodka. The martini by default is gin with dry
> vermouth
> stirred briefly with ice, strained, with an olive (1)... *always* 'up

As much as I hate to agree w/Sheldon, he's right.