The word garnish was first a verb meaning “to decorate.” But to cocktailians it became a noun for a drink adornment. Mainly it acts as trimming—a piece of lime, say, that signals “this is a lime juice drink,” but doesn’t add much flavor.
But in a Martini, a garnish is so much more. The fruit, vegetable or even seafood you put in this simple mix of dry vermouth and gin (or sometimes vodka) changes the character of the drink, and in some cases its very name.
The classic Martini garnish is the green olive, a meaty stone fruit that is briny and slightly bitter. But plop in a cocktail onion instead and that drink is suddenly a Gibson. It earns that new distinction. The tiny, pickled pearl onion changes the character of…
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Cigar Aficionado (Digital) - 1 Issue, September/October 2023