NYC’s famous Knickerbocker Hotel is hosting a year-long tribute to the cocktail that invented it

Times Square is about to be shaken, not stirred.

The historic Knickerbocker Hotel is paying tribute to the iconic cocktail year-round with martini ice cream, a rooftop martini garden, martini-on-demand and masterclasses in mixed drinks.

The “Year of the Martini” comes almost a century after legendary Italian mixologist Martini de Arma di Taggia is said to have perfected the dry martini – a 50/50 ratio of dry gin to dry vermouth – in the hotel bar.

According to Scott Case, hotel manager at The Knickerbocker, the famous recipe made The Knickerbocker the epicenter of the dry martini craze from 1907 to 1920 and attracted such notables as author F. Scott Fitzgerald and opera singer Enrico Caruso.

Today, tableside martini carts in the hotel’s fourth-floor Martini Lounge offer guests di Taggia’s original recipe, complemented by Chef Adam Raksin’s caviar-topped martini bite.

Martini enthusiasts are also able to enjoy the cocktail eight stories up to St. Cloud Rooftop, which has been transformed into a pop-up garden inspired by popular martini garnishes, including lemon and olive trees and rosemary bushes.

As part of a Martini World Tour in partnership with other leading hotel properties around the world, hotels from around the world will bring their own version of the martini to The Knickerbocker during masterclasses open to the public in the hotel bar.

The inaugural class began with renowned author and cocktail historian David Wondrich, who paved the way for six subsequent classes hosted by various international experts throughout the year.

“No other cocktail has as strong an impact on society or culture as the martini, and every generation is flocking to New York City’s premier bars to indulge in the best this city has to offer. The martini, like The Knickerbocker itself, is a classic and iconic piece of history that has reimagined itself as a landmark in today’s society,” said Case.

“By dedicating ourselves to the ‘year of the martini,’ we aim to create memorable moments for our guests that celebrate our unique history and our place in today’s sophisticated cocktail scene,” Case continued.