The martini is an American classic and everyone has their own idea of the "perfect martini". Mr. Boston's Official Bartending Guide has the "Perfect Cocktail" recipe listed as equal parts dry and sweet vermouth (1.5 tsps of each) with 1.5 ozs. of gin. Yes, gin. Not Godiva chocolate liqueur. Not lemon juice and simple syrup. Not cranberry juice, but gin and vermouth. Today, every bartender has taken some liberties with the term "martini", but when I order one, I have a specific recipe in mind - extra dry, shaken, up with 3 olives (sometimes I like to mix it up and substitute olives for cocktail onions).
Yes, you may prefer your martini a different way, which is fine (although really, extra dry, shaken, up, with olives is seriously the "perfect martini"), but navigating the martini lingo is sometimes difficult for some. Read below to decipher how to order your perfect martini at the bar, and while you're at it, try mixing it up at home. Being able to make a good martini is a skill that everyone should have in their back pockets. Like knowing how to start a fire with twigs. Or like knowing how to collect rain water if you're on a deserted island.
Gin or Vodka
If you order a classic martini, you can call gin or vodka. Not Godiva chocolate liqueur, not lemon juice and simple syrup, not cranberry juice. Vodka or Gin. But really, why would you pick vodka when you can have delicious, yummy gin?!? If you want to specify a brand, do so when you specify gin or vodka (Me? - if its available, I'll have North Shore No. 6. If not available, Beefeater is good option as well).
How Dry?
I like my martinis dry. Very, very dry. Which means I like gin in a glass and pretty much nothing else. But when your bartender asks you how dry, they're referring to the amount of vermouth you'd like in your martini. There is no universal proportion, but if you don't specify how dry you'd like your martini, you're likely to get a good half ounce of vermouth in the glass. Dry will be a few drops. Extra dry only affords you the slightest essence of vermouth. Today, you're also likely to get dry vermouth, but if you'd prefer sweet, be sure to ask.
Shaken or Stirred
Shaking your martini will aerate the cocktail more than if it was stirred. This will slightly change the flavor profile, and the only way to figure out what you like best is to order it both ways, side by side and do a taste test. If you don't specify, chances are your martini will come to you shaken.
Up or On The Rocks
Once the Martini is made, you can have it served on the rocks (over ice) or up, which is poured in a glass with no ice. Default at most bars is to serve it up.
Garnish
When most people think of martinis, they think of olives as a garnish. But you can also request a twist, which is a lemon rind twists and will give your martini a much different flavor. If you're up for it, order a Gibson rather than martini, and your olives will be replaced with cocktail onions. When I'm making mine at home, I like to do both olives and cocktails onions. There is truly nothing like a gin soaked olive or onion. If you want an olive soaked martini though, order yours dirty and splash of olive juice will be thrown in to your cocktail for good measure. But why would you want to disguise the wonderful flavor of gin with olive juice?
Experiment at home to figure out how you like your martinis and to practice your martini making skills, which as I have mentioned are necessary! Know how to order when your at a bar to avoid any confusion with your waiter, and remember to drink responsibly.
My "Perfect Martini"
While crafting your cocktail put ice in a cocktail glass to chill it. In a shaker, pour 2 ounces of gin and a handful ice. Remove the ice of the cocktail glass and replace with a splash of dry vermouth. Wash the glass with the vermouth and pour out any extra. Strain gin from cocktail shaker into glass. Garnish with two olives and a cocktail onion. Enjoy and be happy.
How do you like your martinis?
-B
"A Drink with Something in It"
There is something about a Martini,
A tingle remarkably pleasant;
A yellow, mellow Martini;
I wish I had one at present.
There is something about a Martini,
Ere the dining and dancing begin,
And to tell you the truth,
It is not the vermouth -
I think that perhaps its the gin.
-Ogden Nash
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