Classic Martini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What was in the original martini? ›

Then in the second edition of his Bartender Manual (1888) Harry Johnson included the first known recipe for a "Martini" listing its ingredients as old tom gin, sweet vermouth, orange curacao, gum, Boker's bitters and a lemon twist.

The martini is a co*cktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive and/or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. A common variation, the vodka martini, uses vodka instead of gin for the co*cktail's base spirit.

The Proper Way to Make a Martini

Drinks that have juice in them, like lemon or lime, are meant to be shaken to thoroughly mix the ingredients. But a co*cktail without any citrus, like a martini, which contains just two ingredients—vodka and vermouth—doesn't require shaking.

An unspoken superstition deems an even number of olives bad luck. Like avoiding a black cat in an alleyway, most seasoned bartenders will only serve Martinis with one or three olives (never two or four). The origins of this superstition remain a mystery, but are adamantly followed.

There are three main types of Martini: wet, dry and perfect. Vermouth is a fortified wine flavoured with botanicals, and it makes a Martini either sweet or dry, depending how much vermouth is used in the recipe. Wet means the drink is sweeter, so the ratio is normally 3:1.

Begin with a London dry-style gin. From there, add a little dry vermouth. The ratio is negotiable, but common formulas for a Dry Martini typically fall in the range of four-to-eight parts gin to one part vermouth. A dash of orange bitters ties the room together.

To make a Dirty Martini, bartenders typically start with a base of Gin or vodka, along with a small amount of dry Vermouth. They then add a splash of Olive brine, which gives the drink its signature 'dirty' flavour. The co*cktail is traditionally garnished with one or more Olives.

There are two key things when it comes to making sure that your martini is just right for serving. The first is the temperature, the second is the dilution. These two things are linked and they are easiest to control, as Felix advocates, when you stir your martinis.

In certain martini venues, the “two martini rule” is observed. Once you have consumed two, you must move on to a soft drink, such as wine or a gin and tonic.

What does filthy mean in a martini? ›

Ordering a Martini “Extra Dirty” or “Filthy” adjusts the co*cktail's recipe to include a higher ratio of salty olive brine in the drink. The Filthy Martini hones in on the olive brine's distinct taste in an otherwise Dirty Martini and turns it up to the max.

Order your martini wet, dry, or extra dry.

These terms refer to the ratio of gin or vodka to vermouth. If you do not specify what you want, you will be served a martini with a standard ratio. A wet martini is a martini with extra vermouth. A dry martini refers to a martini with less vermouth in it.

Bone-dry: a martini made with extremely little or no vermouth.

While there are a few stories that claim to be responsible for the birth of the martini co*cktail, most agree it was originally a sweet gin co*cktail called a martinez – a mix of gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur and orange bitters.

Origin stories of the martini

Some believe that a bartender named Jerry Thomas invented the Martinez at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco at the request of a gold miner. Thomas supposedly created the drink by combining Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and a dash of bitters.

Originally, martinis were made with a sweet type of gin, while today's use dry gin. Some original recipes call for equal amounts of gin and vermouth, but the vermouth wasn't always easy to come by in the 1900s. Between Prohibition and WWII, vermouth wasn't often available, making martinis even drier.

While there are still many stories today about the first-ever martini, many accept that it used gin. However, people started experimenting with new additions, including vodka, over the years. To this day, a martini still includes just two ingredients (plus a garnish).