Name: Classic Martini Cocktail
Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Gin; 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth; 2 dashes Orange Bitters

A symbol of sophistication and class, the Martini has been celebrated in films from the Thin Man series in the 30s and 40s all the way to present day Bond Films and many more.

In fact, there is a glass called the Nick and Nora (which Martinis are often served in) that got its name from the two main characters in the Thin Man.

No matter how it’s mixed, the Martini has made a lasting impression on how we drink as a culture. As a result of its ubiquity, everyone seems to have their own particular preferences on how to make their perfect Martini.

And although it requires very basic ingredients, the fact that it’s so spirit-forward makes it surprisingly complicated to make the perfect drink.

Martini with cocktail olives on a cocktail pick in a chilled coupe glass

A (Far Too) Brief History of the Martini Cocktail

The history of this drink, like many others, is not quite clear. Some say that it originated as the cocktail known as the Martinez, (which is gin, sweet vermouth, bitters and Maraschino liqueur) during the mid 1800s in the town of Martinez.

Another story says that it was created by the famous bartender Jerry Thomas at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco for a gold miner on his way to Martinez.

Either way, there’s no consensus on who originated it or the “correct” recipe. So I’m going to show you my recommendation for the best classic Martini recipe, and you are welcome to tweak it to your tastes!

There are so many ways to make this your own by manipulating the ratio of gin to vermouth. Just make sure to use quality ingredients and a very cold cocktail glass, and it’s sure to be delicious.

standard martini cocktail in a chilled glass

Martini Ingredient List

As I mentioned, the Martini is a simple drink that can still be hard to get right. The quality of alcohol you use and the type of gin (or vodka) makes a huge difference in your traditional Martini where the ingredients can’t hide.

Do you like more herbal flavors or a more juniper-forward drink? Choose your base spirit according to your tastes– you can’t really go wrong with basic Bombay Sapphire, but we love craft gins as well. Just use a fairly high-quality gin, and you’ll be fine.

Also notice that we’re working with the traditional gin version, but if you prefer your drink with vodka, we won’t judge… much!

The classic recipe has a traditional proportion of gin to vermouth is 2:1, but Chris is actually making more of a Dry Gin Martini and using 2 1/2 ounces of gin and only 1/2 ounce dry vermouth. Regardless of your chosen ratio, this cocktail requires only 3 ingredients and very little prep time:

Gin (If you don’t love the botanical flavors of gin, you can sub in vodka for a classic Vodka Martini instead– it’s a very popular option, even if it’s not traditional.)
Dry Vermouth (not sweet vermouth!)
Orange Bitters
Cocktail Olives and/or Slice of Lemon Peel (for garnish)
Olive Juice (optional for a Dirty Gin Martini– We’re not doing this version today, but we do recommend trying it. You can follow our recipe and just add a splash of olive brine if you’d like.)

Photo courtesy of DesignPickle/stock.adobe.com

Common Martini Variations/Types of Martinis

If you really want to up your Martini game, impress your guests, and figure out what you like, here are a variety of versions of this iconic cocktail to try:

Gin or Vodka Martinis— or some mix for the base spirit
Dry Martini: Using less dry vermouth (a fortified wine) makes it more “dry.” You can use equal parts base spirit & vermouth for a 50/50 Martini or very little dry vermouth for an extra-dry Martini. When making a classic gin Martini with less vermouth, make sure to get a quality gin that shines, bringing out more botanical flavors.
Wet Martini: Alternatively, a Wet Martini is the opposite, adding more vermouth.
Dirty Martini: This version includes up to 1/2 ounce olive brine for extra flavor. Garnish with olives (the true Dirty Martini lover and/or olive lover often opts for blue cheese olives to play off the tang of the olive juice).
Vesper Martini: This boozy yet sophisticated drink combines 3 ounces gin, 1 ounce vodka, and 1/2 ounce Lillet Blanc. Garnish with twist of lemon peel. Note: You only need one of these strong Martinis!

2 versions of Modern classic Manhattan cocktail with American rye whiskey and real Maraschino cherries

Manhattan: Wait, how is the Manhattan a Martini? Well, it follows the classic formula of spirit (whiskey), aromatic fortified wine (sweet vermouth), and bitters (aromatic bitters).
Negroni: Just like the Manhattan, this popular cocktail falls into the same structure by switching out ingredients– gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari (the bitter element here).
Chris’ Version: Falling somewhere between a Martini and a Corpse Reviver #2, this sweet Martini with herbal flavors mixes 2 ounces gin, 1/2 ounce Lillet, 1/2 ounce yellow Chartreuse, and 2 dashes of orange bitters.
2 Dashes Orange Bitters: Or try no bitters at all. Personally, we feel that orange bitters is the key ingredient to an excellent Martini.
Shaken or stirred (Thanks, James Bond…): For the record, common mixology rules say a spirit-forward cocktail like the Martini is supposed to be stirred, not shaken in a cocktail shaker with ice.
And a large number of different garnishes, most commonly fresh olives, a lemon twist, or even a cocktail onion.

While I may have strong feelings on what makes a “correct” Martini, I’ll always fall back on my mantra: Drink what you like!

If you’re interested in playing around with the gin to vermouth ratios and figuring out your favorite type of Martini, you can learn more here.

Photo by M. Cooper via www.unsplash.com

How to Make a Classic Martini

Making a classic Martini cocktail is easy– you don’t even need a cocktail shaker! Simply combine your ingredients in a mixing glass with a bar spoon, strain into a chilled glass, and add a green olive garnish or lemon twist (or both).

See how Chris does it:

If a true Martini isn’t your thing, you may prefer some of the dessert Martinis that are extremely popular these days. A “real” Martini is spirit, fortified wine, and bitters. So to be clear, these aren’t real Martinis, but they do have their place in the cocktail world: