Mix some Gin and Vermouth, top it off with an olive, and you have a Martini. Perhaps one of the most iconic symbols for a cocktail, the Martini glass is a symbol for nightlife in general. Finding a good Martini in Finger Lakes Wine Country isn’t as hard as you might think. I have been in search of the top three Martini bars in the area (in the name of research of course) and was happy to find three fantastic places to visit while in Wine Country. After all, you can't drink wine all the time, can you? The Starlite Room, The Cellar, and Three Birds Restaurant and Martini Bar all made the cut.
There is an American creation myth that may or may not be true. During the days of the California Gold Rush in 1849, a miner struck it rich and was on his way to San Francisco. The miner arrived in the town of Martinez where he wanted to celebrate and it was there that he had the “Martinez Special.” The drink consisted of one part very dry Sauterne wine and three parts Gin stirred with ice and garnished with an olive. Another theory could come from the fact that Martini & Rossi created Martini Rosso dry vermouth in 1863. The use of vermouth in Martinis is a logical link to the possible origin of the name. The origin of the cocktail was most likely in US or the UK after the Martini & Rossi vermouth was imported into America in the 19th century. However, the Martinez is still considered “the great grandfather of the martini cocktail.”
The Starlite Room in Elmira has dubbed Wednesdays as Martini Night. From 7:00 to 10:00 pm, Martini lovers can enjoy $1.00 off their favorite drink. Regular Happy Hour runs from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The Starlite Room has a new menu featuring martinis of all flavors. While you can enjoy your classic Cosmo, you can also mix up the night with Carmel-Apple, Chocolate or Pomegranate Martinis...just to name a few. Prices run from $5.50 to $7.50.
On 21 West Market Street in Corning, The Cellar Martini Bar has the cheapest Martini prices around. On Thursdays, you can get a Martini for only $5.00. Happy hour begins at 4:00 and goes on until 7:00 pm. The Cellar also has great drink specials. For the winos out there, on Mondays you can get 20% off all wine and beer. Wednesdays are 2-for-1 wine night on 6 oz. glasses and on Saturdays, you can get 25% all bottles of wine. There are over 70 award winning wineries on their extensive list!
The Three Birds Restaurant and Martini Bar, also on Corning’s Market Street, has a rotational Martini menu. They offer seasonal Martinis as well as the classics. The bar is open Monday through Saturday at 4:00 pm. Their current menu has a lot of fun selections like Pineapple Martinis, Caramel Esspressotinis, Sex and The City Martinis and the Pink Panther. There are at least a dozen more equally fun and delicious Martinis on their menu and they also offer an extensive wine list.
Whether you meet for a Martini over a business pursuit or as a chance to forget the business part of your day, these three choices offer a great atmosphere and delicious cocktails in Finger Lakes Wine Country.
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