A martini-with-a-twist is sophisticated and pure – zesty, dazzling, on-point. A martini-with-an-olive is more naughty and salty – it has a bit more mystique (olive advocates also regard themselves as intellectually superior to twist-ers, though they’re too polite to say it).
For the record, I like my martini with an olive and a twist, which shocks people no end. They look at me, outraged, as if I’m trying to have my cake and eat it. I’ve seen bartenders blanche, as…

