It is a contextual drink. A lawyer having three vodka martinis in a cocktail lounge is doing the exact same thing as a hobo slamming back a pint of Popov on the park bench, he just makes you think he isn't that guy because his comes in a fancy glass.
There is no such thing as a good or bad martini, there is only good or bad liquor. Vermouth is basically an afterthought nowadays that is usually omitted in practice, and often unrefridgerated and oxidized to shit if included at all.
The only time I ever think "this person actually likes martinis" is when they order it dirty as fuck, because gin and olive juice is actually a delicious combination.
But like you said, most of the time, people just want a chilled glass of vodka, but don't want to ask the bartender for a chilled glass of vodka because then they would have to publicly come to terms with the classlessness of their alcoholism.
Martinis are an odd cocktail that is exclusively good on cocktail bars. Nowhere else goes through vermouth fast enough for it to stay good, including at home
I think the juice from a jar of cocktail onions would be sublime in a Martini. My other beef is that the martini glass does not lend itself to mobility. Just wants to splash everywhere
The glass is the most important part for the martini drinker though, as it is the part that let's everyone know they are drinking a martini.
At leasy in my alcoholic days, I was unashamed, and would often order a martini in a rocks glass. The bartenders would occasionally be shocked, and just say
You mean a glass of gin with an olive?
Truly, a rose by any other name...
I default to glorious libbey rocks glasses but tonight I acquiesces to a Martini glass
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