Martini

When you saw the title of this article, I bet the martini was one of the cocktails that popped into your head. Well, you were right – it is definitely a basic cocktail that you need to know how to make, if you want to be worth your salt as an at home bartender. There are a few* ways to make a martini – original, vodka, dry, dirty. Here they are for your memorizing pleasure.

Original

2 1/2 oz gin
1 tsp dry vermouth

In a mixing glass half-filled with ice cubes, combine gin and vermouth. Stir well. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist or an olive.

Dry

2 1/2 oz gin
Dash dry vermouth

Same directions as the original.

Dirty (aka Olive Martini)

1 oz dry gin
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 oz olive juice

Pour gin, vermouth and olive juice into cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and serve.

Vodka

3 oz vodka
1/2 oz dry vermouth

Shake with cracked ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an anchovy-stuffed olive.

*There are, of course, what seems like an infinite number of different recipes for Martinis, some veering way out into the fruity/sweet realm of cocktail flavours. Check out our cocktails page, filter by the ingredients “gin” and “vermouth” or “vodka” and “vermouth” (whichever you prefer) and find your next new version of the Martini to mix up at home.