The Martini is perhaps the world's most iconic cocktail, but its exact origins are debated. One popular theory suggests it was invented at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City in 1911 by a bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia. He allegedly served a simple mix of gin and dry vermouth to John D. Rockefeller. Another theory links it to the 'Martinez,' a sweeter cocktail from the 1860s. Over the decades, the Martini has evolved from a 1:1 ratio of gin to vermouth to the 'extra dry' versions popular today, which use only a rinse of vermouth. Whether shaken or stirred (though purists insist on stirring to maintain the drink's clarity and silky texture), the Martini remains a symbol of sophisticated drinking culture.