Martini Monday Recipe

Chill martini glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes or fill with ice water while you prepare the cocktail; discard ice water before pouring.

Fill shaker or mixing glass with fresh ice (about 3/4 full). Use a shaker for shaken martinis (Lemon Drop, Cosmopolitan, Crimson-Tini, Appletini, Chocolate Butterscotch). Use a mixing glass and bar spoon for stirred classic martinis.

Stirred Classic (Dry or Regular)

In a mixing glass filled with ice, add 2.25 oz gin or vodka and 0.25 oz dry vermouth. Stir gently for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted. Strain into chilled martini glass. Express a lemon twist over the drink or garnish with an olive; serve immediately.

Prepare glass rim by moistening the rim with a lemon wedge and dipping into superfine sugar. In a shaker filled with ice add 2 oz vodka, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup. Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until chilled. Double-strain into the prepared chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

In a shaker with ice add 1.5 oz vodka (citron preferred), 0.5 oz orange liqueur, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.75 oz cranberry juice. Shake vigorously 10–15 seconds until well chilled. Fine-strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or a thin orange twist.

In a shaker with ice combine 2 oz vodka or gin, 0.5 oz cherry liqueur (or 0.25 oz grenadine for color + 0.25 oz simple syrup for sweetness), and 0.25 oz fresh lemon juice. Shake 8–12 seconds until chilled. Strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

In a shaker with ice combine 1.5 oz vodka, 1 oz sour apple schnapps, and 0.25 oz fresh lemon juice. Shake vigorously 10–12 seconds until chilled. Strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with a thin apple slice laid on the rim.

In a shaker with ice add 1 oz vanilla vodka, 1 oz chocolate liqueur, 0.5 oz butterscotch schnapps, and 0.5 oz half-and-half. Shake vigorously 10–15 seconds until well chilled and slightly frothy. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a drizzle of chocolate or chocolate shavings on top.

Serve martinis cold, straight up (no ice). Adjust sweetness or citrus to taste by increasing simple syrup or lemon/lime juice in 0.125–0.25 oz increments. For a drier martini, reduce vermouth; for a wetter martini, increase vermouth up to 0.75 oz. Always taste and adjust when making batches for service.