Martini Recipe

Chill the glass

Place the martini glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes or fill with ice water while you prepare the drink, then discard ice water just before pouring.

Add ingredients to mixing glass

Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with the measured ice (~1 cup). Pour in 2.5 oz gin or vodka and 0.5 oz dry vermouth. If making a dirty martini, also add 0.5 oz olive brine and reduce dry vermouth to taste (you can keep both if desired).

Stir (preferred) or shake

Using a bar spoon, stir the mixture briskly for 20–30 seconds (about 15–20 full turns) until well chilled and slightly diluted. If the guest requests a shaken martini, shake the mixture vigorously in a sealed shaker for 10–12 seconds instead (this produces more aeration and cloudiness).

Strain and garnish

Discard ice or water from the chilled martini glass. Strain the chilled mixture into the prepared martini glass using a Hawthorne or julep strainer. Garnish: for a classic martini, express a lemon twist over the drink and drop it in or add a single green olive. For a dirty martini, skewer 2 green olives and place them in the glass.

Serve immediately while cold. Offer the guest the option of 'dry' (less vermouth), 'wet' (more vermouth), 'extra dirty' (more olive brine), or shaken vs stirred. Adjust vermouth or brine quantities accordingly.