This Martini combines 2 oz gin or vodka with 1/2 oz dry vermouth: a 4:1 ratio. Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass, then choose a lemon twist or an olive for the garnish.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin or vodka
- 1/2 oz dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Chill the Glass: Begin by placing your martini glass in the freezer or filling it with ice water to chill.
- Mix: In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the gin or vodka and dry vermouth. The quantities here use a 4:1 ratio, favoring the spirit, but preferences for the vermouth's presence can vary, leading to drier or wetter martinis.
- Stir or Shake: The method of combining the ingredients has long been a subject of debate. Stirring gently for about 30 seconds ensures a smooth, clear cocktail without diluting the spirit too much. Shaking, popularized by James Bond, makes the drink colder and can introduce a slight frothiness.
- Garnish: Strain the mixture into the chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, expressing the oils over the drink before adding it, or a single olive, depending on your taste preference.
- Serve Immediately: A martini is best enjoyed cold, so serve it as soon as it's prepared.
Preparation notes
- The spirit is an alternative: use 2 oz gin or 2 oz vodka, not 2 oz of each.
- Dry vermouth is the ingredient specified here. Sweet vermouth produces a different cocktail.
- Chill the glass while you mix, then strain out the mixing ice. The garnish choice changes the aroma and presentation without changing the 4:1 spirit-to-vermouth ratio.
