Handcrafted Martinis Recipe

1. Chill Glass

Place the martini glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare the drink to ensure it is very cold.

2. Prepare Garnish

If using a lemon twist, use a peeler or paring knife to remove a long, thin strip of peel, avoiding white pith. For olives or onion, thread them onto a cocktail pick. Reserve.

3. Fill a mixing glass with large ice cubes until nearly full.

4. Measure 2.5 oz London dry gin and 0.5 oz dry vermouth using a jigger and pour them into the mixing glass. Add 1 dash orange bitters if using.

5. Stir the mixture with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds (about 15–20 revolutions) until well chilled and slightly diluted. Stirring keeps the texture crystal clear.

6. Empty the martini glass of ice water or remove it from the freezer. Using a strainer, double-strain the chilled martini into the glass to keep out small ice chips.

7. Garnish with 3 large green olives on a pick or a lemon twist expressed over the drink and dropped in. Serve immediately.

8. For a cleaner, colder vodka martini, optionally shake: fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add 3 oz premium vodka and 0.5 oz dry vermouth. Shake vigorously for 8–10 seconds and strain into the chilled glass. If you prefer silky texture and clarity, stir vodka and vermouth in a mixing glass with ice for 20–30 seconds instead.

9. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives as preferred.

10. Prepare the base as a gin or vodka martini (stir or shake per preference). Before stirring/shaking, add 0.5 oz olive brine to the mixing glass or shaker along with spirits and vermouth.

11. Stir or shake with ice until well chilled (20–30 seconds stirring, 8–10 seconds shaking). Strain into the chilled martini glass and garnish with olives.

12. Make a classic stirred gin martini but garnish with a cocktail onion instead of olives or a lemon twist.

13. Serves one. Adjust proportions proportionally for multiple cocktails. Taste and adjust vermouth level: increase vermouth for a wetter martini (more aromatic), decrease for a drier martini.

14. Use top-quality spirits and very cold glassware for the best experience. If you prefer a very dry martini, rinse the glass with vermouth and discard excess before pouring the spirit.