Food - Drink
Why You May Want To Order Your Next Martini On The Rocks
By VANESSA NIX ANTHONY
Martinis are typically served neat, but there is a case to be made for enjoying this drink on the rocks. Serving your martini with ice makes it more refreshing, and ice can also keep you from getting tipsy too quickly on this 100%-alcohol cocktail, since the ice's slow melt makes your drink last longer, eliminating the need for constant refills.
Author of “The Martini Cocktail” Robert Simonson also explains that a martini on the rocks is not a new idea; this way of serving martinis showed up on cocktail menus in the early 1950's. In 1961, The New York Times reported that both a vodka martini and martini on the rocks were the two “most significant” trends for this drink at the time.
The downside of ice is that it can water down flavors, so make sure to use more robust or higher-proof alcohol, then taste your drink and make small adjustments to suit your preferences. While some say that a martini with ice is not authentic, there are many reasons to say "no" to gatekeepers and try it on the rocks.