The NICK & NORA MARTINI aka the 3:1 Martini

Growing up I spent a lot of time with my mom watching old movies on TV and amongst our very favorites was The Thin Man Series of comedic detective stories featuring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, with Skippy as Asta their scene stealing fox terrier. Nick and Nora were sophisticated, witty and rarely without a cocktail in hand, usually a martini. Definitely one of my first and earliest inspirations for my happy hour obsession as an adult.

The original and only book, written by Dashiell Hammett, spawned not only the six successful movies with Powell and Loy from 1934 to 1947 but:

1. a 1941 to 1950 radio show voiced by various Nick's and Claudia Morgan as Nora
2. a television show during the fifties starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk
3. a television movie in 1975 with Craig Steven's and Jo Ann Plug and
4. a Broadway musical in 1991 starring Barry Bostwick and Joanna Gleason

Nick and Nora pretty much ruled the light mystery genre with booze fueled witty repartee and screwball couple antics from the thirties through the fifties and set the bar for later detective couplings like Hart to Hart and Remington Steele and Laura Holt. Nick and Nora helped escort America gracefully out of Prohibition, Nora was a vanguard for Women's Lib and together they entertained a country rebounding from a depression. And they both had a healthy respect for cocktails, despite the fact Nick called his 3 to 1 martini "dry" and advocated shaking a gin martini. No matter how he made them, they could both certainly put them away!

I say that calls for trying out the cocktail named for them.Below is the recipe for the classic 3 to 1 Martini also known as

TheNICK & NORAMARTINI
INGREDIENTS1-1/2 Oz. Dry Gin1/2 Oz. Dry Vermouth
Glass: Nick & Nora
Garnish:  Spanish Olive (no pimento)
DIRECTIONSAdd ice to a cocktail pitcher, pour in the ingredients, stir (sorry, Nick) until chilled, strain into your chilled glass, garnish and serve.
Voiceover Video with Ingredients and Directions:

I prefer my usual London Dry Gin with Noilly Pratt stirred but we all know every martini drinker goes their own way.Cheers!

I'VE ADAPTED THIS GRAPHIC & PUT IT ON FUN MERCHANDISE!Check out the 3 to 1 Martini Cocktail Recipe Design on Tees & Clothing, Party Supplies, Posters & Art, Decor & Gifts.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY