Vodka Martini
- Glass
- Cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
- ABV
- ~28%
Ingredients
- 2½ ozvodka75 ml
- ½ ozdry vermouth15 ml
Instructions
Chill your cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before you start — a warm glass is the enemy of a great Martini. Combine the vodka and dry vermouth in a mixing glass with plenty of large ice. Stir for 30–40 rotations, about 45 seconds. You want the drink very cold and properly diluted — stirring rather than shaking keeps it crystal clear and silky. Strain into the chilled glass. Garnish with either a lemon twist (express the oils over the surface, run it around the rim, then drop it in) or two or three olives on a pick. The choice is yours — lemon is brighter and more aromatic; olives are richer and more savory.
Sips & Tips
Technique
Stir, don't shake. Shaking a Martini bruises the spirit — it introduces tiny air bubbles that make the drink cloudy and slightly diluted in a way that feels watery rather than smooth. Stirring keeps it silky and clear. The one exception is if you genuinely prefer it shaken — James Bond's preference has its defenders, but most bartenders disagree.
Balance
The vermouth ratio is personal. A classic Martini uses a 5:1 ratio; a dry Martini uses less vermouth; an extra-dry Martini uses almost none. Start at 5:1 and adjust to taste. The vermouth matters — use a fresh bottle and keep it refrigerated. Stale vermouth is one of the most common reasons a Martini disappoints. Dolin Dry is a reliable, elegant choice.
History
The Vodka Martini rose to prominence in the 1950s and 60s as vodka became fashionable in the West. It was cemented in popular culture by James Bond, who ordered his 'shaken, not stirred' in Ian Fleming's novels from 1953 onwards. The gin Martini purists have never fully forgiven Bond — but the Vodka Martini has earned its place as a genuine classic in its own right.
The Vodka Martini is elegance in a glass — cold, clean, and uncompromising. Get the temperature right, use fresh vermouth, and stir with patience. Everything else is just garnish. Cheers.
Variations
Dirty Martini
Add ½ oz of olive brine to the mixing glass along with the vodka and vermouth. The brine adds a savory, briny depth that transforms the drink entirely. Garnish with three olives. Use a good quality brine — the jarred liquid from Castelvetrano olives is exceptional.
Gibson
Make the Martini as normal but garnish with a cocktail onion instead of an olive or lemon twist. The pickled onion adds a subtle savory-sweet note that changes the character of the drink. Simple, elegant, and underrated.
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Vodka Martini
Glass: Cocktail | Difficulty: Easy | ABV: ~28%
Ingredients
- 2½ oz vodka
- ½ oz dry vermouth
Instructions
Chill your cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before you start — a warm glass is the enemy of a great Martini. Combine the vodka and dry vermouth in a mixing glass with plenty of large ice. Stir for 30–40 rotations, about 45 seconds. You want the drink very cold and properly diluted — stirring rather than shaking keeps it crystal clear and silky. Strain into the chilled glass. Garnish with either a lemon twist (express the oils over the surface, run it around the rim, then drop it in) or two or three olives on a pick. The choice is yours — lemon is brighter and more aromatic; olives are richer and more savory.