The Martini
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The martini is not just a drink, it’s an ethos. It’s a status symbol, a cultural icon, a character trait. It’s distinctive v-shaped glass says so much about the drinker without them having to say a word. Gin or vodka? Shaken or stirred? With a twist, dirty, or straight up? Wet, dry, or bone dry? Gibson or Vesper? Your answer apparently says more about you than you know.
A classic martini is made with either Gin or Vodka (and sometimes both). Gin has a unique botanical smell and flavor whereas vodka is pretty neutral. Then there’s Dry Vermouth, a fortified white wine with very little sweetness and often a subtle, herbaceous bitterness. The ratios and garnishes are really what differentiate one style of martini from another.
This is my Martini 101: Everything you need to know about martini terms, styles, and of course, how to make the perfect martini. Let’s get into it.
Martini Terms to Know
Dry vs. Wet
Dry = less vermouth
Wet = more vermouth
Bone Dry = no vermouth
Up vs. On the Rocks
When a cocktail is served “up” it means it’s chilled with ice, then strained into a glass without ice. A classic martini is always served up unless you specifically ask it to be “on the rocks” (with ice in the glass.) Martinis are not the only cocktail served up — tons of other cocktails are served chilled and strained.
Shaken vs. Stirred
A martini can be shaken with ice or stirred with ice before being strained and served, but martinis are usually stirred to maintain the clarity. James Bond, however, famously prefers his “shaken, not stirred,” which is not how most martinis are made.
Types of Martinis
Gin Martini
London Dry Gin + Dry Vermouth with a twist (garnished with a lemon peel)
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz London Dry Gin
- 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
- Citrus twist
Instructions
- Stir with ice until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
- Express lemon twist over the top and garnish.
Vodka Martini
Vodka + Dry Vermouth with a twist
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz Vodka
- 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
- Citrus twist
Instructions
- Stir with ice until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
- Express lemon twist over the top and garnish.
Dirty Martini
Gin or Vodka + olive brine + small amount of Dry Vermouth
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz Gin or Vodka
- 3/4 oz Olive Brine
- Dry vermouth, to rinse
- To garnish: 3 olives
Instructions
- Rinse a chilled glass with dry vermouth, then toss.
- Stir gin or vodka and olive brine with ice until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled, vermouth-rinsed glass.
- Garnish with 3 olives.
50/50 Martini
Equal parts Gin or Vodka and Dry Vermouth garnished with olives or a twist.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Gin or Vodka
- 1.5 oz Dry Vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive
Instructions
- Stir with ice until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled glass, garnish.
Gibson Martini
Dirty Martini with pickled onions instead of olives. (This was chess-genius Beth Harmon’s signature drink in A Queen’s Gambit!)
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz London Dry Gin or Vodka
- 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
- 0.5 oz Pickled Onion Brine
- Pickled onion
Instructions
- Stir with ice until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
- Garnish with a pickled onion.
Pickle Martini (Pickletini or Dirty Pickle Martini)
Dirty martini with pickle juice instead of olive brine.
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz Gin or Vodka
- 3/4 oz pickle juice
- Dry vermouth, to rinse
- To garnish: cornichons
Instructions
- Rinse a chilled glass with dry vermouth, then toss.
- Stir gin or vodka and pickle juice with ice until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled, vermouth-rinsed glass.
- Garnish with cornichons.
Vesper
Gin + Vodka + Lillet Blanc with a twist. If it’s good enough for Bond, it’s good enough for me.
Ingredients
- 3 oz Gin (Bond preferred Gordon’s)
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
Instructions
- Shake (Bond-style) with ice until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon twist
Martini Must-Haves
Jules’s Go-to Martini
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz. Gin
- 1 oz. Dry Vermouth
- 3/4 oz. olive brine
- 3
blue cheese stuffed olives
Instructions
- Stir the gin, olive brine, and dry vermouth with ice until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe.
- Served with 3 blue cheese stuffed olives.
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