Although a century or more old, the Gin & It, the ‘It’ being sweet Italian red Vermouth, had its heyday, in Britain, as a pub standard, post WWII. Long out of fashion, its appeal declined inversely with the metaphoric rise in popularity of the Dry Martini, of which the Sweet Martini, as Gin & It was originally known, is said to be the forerunner.
From its pub serving of half and half, often without ice, the ratio has changed as it developed into a more cultured cocktail. So too with the vermouth. The dreaded, for my part, Martini & Rossi Vermouth, can, and should, be substituted with rosso Vermouth di Torino from Piedmont, itself having almost died out but now undergoing a revival in production and, increasingly, more easily available.
- 75 ml London gin
- 35 ml Vermouth di Torino Rosso
- orange bitters
Stir the gin and vermouth with ice in a mixing glass then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Add a dash or two of orange bitters. Garnish with an orange twist or one or three maraschino cherries, an even number said to bring bad luck.