Ingredients:
- 2 ½ oz London Dry Gin (Beefeater, Tanqueray, or Bombay Sapphire)
- ½ oz Dry Vermouth (Dolin or Noilly Prat)
- 1 dash Orange Bitters (optional but recommended)
- Garnish: Lemon twist or olives (your choice)
- Ice: Plenty of fresh, large cubes for stirring
Instructions:
- Chill Your Glass
- Fill a martini or coupe glass with ice water to frost it while you prepare the drink.
- Mix the Martini
- In a mixing glass, combine gin, vermouth, and bitters with ice.
- Stir gently for 30 seconds (stirring keeps it silky; shaking makes it cloudy).
- Strain & Serve
- Discard ice water from your glass.
- Strain the martini into the chilled glass.
- Garnish:
- Lemon twist: Express oils over the drink, then rim the glass.
- Olives: Skewer 1-3 for a savory touch.
Martini Variations:
- Dirty Martini: Add ½ oz olive brine + extra olives.
- Vodka Martini: Swap gin for vodka (if you must).
- Gibson: Garnish with a pickled onion instead of lemon/olives.
Why This Recipe Works:
✔ Proper dilution (from stirring) makes it smooth, not harsh.
✔ Quality gin & vermouth matter—avoid cheap substitutes.
✔ Temperature is key—serve ice-cold for maximum crispness.