No. 115: May/June 2025 - Imbibe Magazine Subscribe + Save
MJ25 cover

No. 115: May/June 2025

MJ25 cover

I always thought I hated Martinis. Throughout my late 20s, the urge would occasionally strike to try and rise above the assorted beers that comprised most of my drinking diet, and to learn to love a Martini. I had no clear reason for fixating on this particular drink, aside from the fact that the Martini was—well, the Martini, the ne plus ultra of cocktails for generations. But this was the 1990s, a time when “Martini” was appended to pretty much anything in a cocktail glass—including the sad, tepid, watery things that wound up in front of me whenever the Martini urge would hit. For one reason or another, my Martini ambitions were regularly thwarted.

Even while I was working as a drinks writer with the cocktail renaissance in full bloom, it took time for me to work my way up to full appreciation of the Martini. Clearly, I wasn’t alone, as the global bar culture slowly cycled its way through highlighting one classic cocktail after another, only eventually landing on the Martini in the past few years. Today, we’re in a full-on Martini revival. Cocktail menus are restoring the Martini to its throne, as bartenders honor the drink’s structure and history while ushering it into the modern era. For this issue, we take a short tour through today’s reenergized Martini landscape.

And while we’re meditating on Martinis: London dry gin may form the heart of many well-loved versions, but the larger gin world begs exploration—check out our Taste Test of California gins. And maybe you bought a bottle of dry vermouth to play along with our Martini coverage, and you want to make sure none goes to waste? No problem—Rich Manning has you covered with a handful of recipes for non-Martini cocktails featuring dry vermouth.

Sweetness is sometimes seen as a caution flag for many wine drinkers. But as Betsy Andrews reveals, some of Germany’s best wines benefit from a little touch of residual sugar, and offer terrific insight into this winemaking region. A more robustly sweet wine from South Africa was once a prized pour, before the style largely faded. Alexandra Owens brings us the story of this once-coveted wine, as producers today are reviving the style.

We’ve also got Josh Bernstein’s look at how breweries are migrating from the cities to the suburbs, Miranda Rake’s dive into the enduring appeal of French press coffee, and Beth Demmon’s profile of influential brewer and cider maker Greg Hall. And are there cocktail names that make you blush? Then join Wayne Curtis for a tour of some of the worst drink names in cocktail history.

Get your May/June 2025 issue here.

Departments

Chilean wines

Drinks Atlas: Chilean Wine

Exploring Chile's dynamic wine scene.
Emily Saladino
worst drink name duck fart

What’s the Worst Drink Name Ever? The List Is Long

Revisiting some history's most unfortunate cocktail names.
Wayne Curtis

Where to Drink in Indianapolis

From historic neighborhood bars to modern cocktail dens, Indy is no longer operating in the shadows.
Penelope Bass
Hana Makgeolli Alice Jun

5 to Try: Makgeolli

Interest in the traditional Korean rice wine is on the rise.
Day Trip: Ren Peir and trent, Co-founders, BABE Wine Bar

Day Trip: Ren Peir and trent, BABE Wine Bar

The co-founders of a NYC queer wine bar share a peek into their typical day.
Emily Saladino
Luxardo Del Santo Herbal Liqueur

Drink of the Week: Luxardo Del Santo Herbal Liqueur

Luxardo gets the last word with the stateside release of this liqueur.
Penelope Bass
Chilean wines

Drinks Atlas: Chilean Wine

Exploring Chile's dynamic wine scene.
Emily Saladino
worst drink name duck fart

What’s the Worst Drink Name Ever? The List Is Long

Revisiting some history's most unfortunate cocktail names.
Wayne Curtis

Where to Drink in Indianapolis

From historic neighborhood bars to modern cocktail dens, Indy is no longer operating in the shadows.
Penelope Bass
Hana Makgeolli Alice Jun

5 to Try: Makgeolli

Interest in the traditional Korean rice wine is on the rise.
Day Trip: Ren Peir and trent, Co-founders, BABE Wine Bar

Day Trip: Ren Peir and trent, BABE Wine Bar

The co-founders of a NYC queer wine bar share a peek into their typical day.
Emily Saladino
Luxardo Del Santo Herbal Liqueur

Drink of the Week: Luxardo Del Santo Herbal Liqueur

Luxardo gets the last word with the stateside release of this liqueur.
Penelope Bass

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