Martini Classique Recipe

Chill glass

Place a martini or coupe glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the drink.

Prepare mixing glass

Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker (without the top) with a generous amount of ice (about 1 cup) to properly chill and dilute the drink.

Measure and combine spirits

Pour 2.5 oz Ketel One vodka (for a Vodka Martini) or 2.5 oz Tanqueray gin (for a Gin Martini) into the mixing glass. Add 0.5 oz dry vermouth.

Stir (not shake) the martini

Using a long bar spoon, stir the mixture gently for 20–30 seconds (about 15–20 full spoon rotations). The goal is to chill and dilute the drink while keeping it clear and silky.

Prepare glass for pouring

If you chilled the glass with ice water, discard the ice water and quickly dry the glass. If it was in the freezer, remove it now.

Strain and serve

Using a Hawthorne or julep strainer, strain the stirred martini into the chilled martini or coupe glass.

Olive garnish

Skewer one pitted green olive on a cocktail pick and lay it in the glass or drop it into the martini.

Lemon twist (optional)

If using a lemon twist instead: cut a thin strip of lemon peel, express the oils over the surface of the drink by holding the peel over the glass and pinching it, then rub the peel around the rim and drop or hang it on the glass.