5 Bucket List Travel Experiences for the Most Dedicated Martini Drinkers

How far would you travel for a really special Martini?

If we are talking about the cocktail zeitgeist, the Martini is Marilyn Monroe, James Bond, and the Marvel cinematic universe. It’s a classic that lives on, gets copied, and is always in vogue. Just this past year, bartenders and mixologists transformed the very identity of the classic cocktail, with miniature versions and creative riffs (think: the MSG Martini, or the Dirty Pasta Water Martini) cropping up nationwide.

But what about a Martini is so everlasting? It could be the fact that the simple mix of gin (or vodka) and vermouth has become canonized in American culture, long before the turn-of-the-century, when the drink was said to be invented. Or, is it the performative way in which the drink is ordered and served? There’s shaken versus stirred; Up with a twist, or extra dirty with blue-cheese olives. Martinis are often even served from their own carts, and arrive with sidecars for good measure and an extra chill.

Now, major players in the tourism industry are betting people will travel just to sip a perfect iteration of America’s most iconic cocktail, and perhaps return home with new skills on how to nail its preparation.

How to Make a Martini, James Bond-Style

This year, luxury tour operator Black Tomato partnered with EON Productions (the production company that owns the rights to 007 and makes the films) to bring the world of James Bond to guests in an itinerary titled “The Assignment.” By working with the film’s producers and 007 insiders such as mixologist Erik Lorincz, who consulted on recipes and bartending etiquette for Skyfall, Black Tomato shapes customizable experiences, which include trips around Europe, stopping at filming locations and offering first-hand Bond moments.

As a vintage spirits connoisseur, Lorincz has collected an armoire full of rare spirits that are made available for a martini masterclass as one such moment. He poured over the original James Bond texts in order to precisely recreate the true-to-the-original martini recipes within, and tracked down bottles of Kina Lillet, a now-extinct liqueur that was listed in the original 007 vesper Martini recipe. Guests will be educated on the history of the cocktail and specific techniques by Lorincz in London, resulting in the truest expression of the drink.

“What is quite cool about this experience is the vintage spirits itself from the 1950s and 60s,” says a representative of Black Tomato. “You can literally drink the same original vesper martini as, say, the one Sean Connery enjoyed.”

While there are plenty of other James Bond experiences offered during these trips, like driving an Aston Martin V8 Vantage through Como, or learning gambling strategy at Casino de Monte-Carlo, the team at Black Tomato is seeing guests react positively to the Martini masterclass.

Related: 22 Gins That Every Martini Lover Should Try

Head to a retreat at one of NYC’s most iconic Martini spots

This year, New York City’s beloved hotel, The Carlyle, launched a package surrounding their famous Bemelmans Bar martini, of which they sell over 1,000 on a busy night. “There is great nostalgia that comes with the classic martini and an ice-cold sidecar and the bartenders in their vibrant red jackets,” says Luis Serrano, longtime head bartender at Bemelmans. “These touches do not change, so guests easily settle into the intimate room aglow with the familiar murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, live music, and fantastic cocktails.”

As part of the Martini retreat which launched in June, guests spend two nights in an Art Deco room overlooking Madison Avenue, and sip martinis all weekend. There’s a masterclass led by a red-jacketed Bemelmans Bar bartender, a martini lunch at the on-site Dowling’s, and a branded stemware gift set to take home and remember the experience by. The limited-run offering has been so successful that the Carlyle team is now extending it through the rest of the year.

Travel to Casa Martini, a real place in Italy

Plus, in Turin, Italy travelers can tour Casa Martini to see how their vermouths are made and sample the backbone of the martini. Guests are guided through the factory to see the production of the brand’s bottlings and then have an educational tasting with an expert, exploring the botanical notes of the vermouths and other aperitifs. Understanding one of the two ingredients in depth adds new value to which spirits should be used in a Martini.

As a note, the two hour tour is conducted in Italian, so English-speaking visitors will need to book in advance in order to arrange a tour that is easily understandable.

Related: Our Best Martini Recipes

Get together for 5 o'clock Martini tea

In Thailand, the Kimpton Kitalay Samui now has a Martini afternoon tea as of this year. The resort offers martinis made to preference served with bites specifically picked to pair with the cocktail, like pickled vegetables, soft-shell crab, and Ibérico ham toasts. To make this “tea” service with more of a sense of place, guests can order it on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Make a Martini at sea

Celebrity Cruises has created an ice bar dedicated to the Martini on many of their ships, including the Ascent, which sets sail in December 2023. In addition to the rare vodkas and a menu of caviars, the bartenders put on a show by mixing the cocktails in an over-the-top manner that matches the energy of the high-tempo music and modern club-y design of the bar.  Leave your ego on shore, embrace the atmosphere, and order the Martini flight.

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