Gibson Martinis

There are several stories floating around about the origin of the Gibson Martini. But the main characteristic of the Gibson is that it is Garnished with an onion instead of the traditional olive.

Classic Gibson Martini Recipe

• 
  
  6 parts gin


• 
  
  1 part dry vermouth

Stir with with ice to chill. Shaking may bruise the gin. Strain into Martini Glass. Garnish with pickled onion.

Just like the standard Martini, Vodka can be substituted for Gin in the Gibson recipe.

Charles Gibson is credited with the invention of the Gibson. But there are several different versions of why or how.

One version is that he was at a bar and asked the bartender to improve on the traditional Martini recipe. So the bartender substituted and onion for an olive and named it after the patron.

Another story is that Gibson was a teetotaller and would have the bartender pour him chilled water into a cocktail glass and he would use the onion garnish so he wouldn't accidentally drink the Gin or Vodka Cocktail.

Another version is that he used the chilled water cocktail for 3 Martini business lunches, so that when is clients became inebriated he was still in control.