James Bond, Don Draper, made in pitchers and poured for guests dressed to the nines. When it comes to iconic cocktails, the martini is a timeless classic. It's a three ingredient cocktail that can have endless expressions based on simple changes of ingredients, ratio, or garnish. Below is a look at a few of the most common variations.
Let's Start With the Classic
Gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters. This is a classic, or dry, martini. And while super simple, can be surprisingly satisfying when made with high quality ingredients chosen to compliment each other. By that I mean choosing a gin and vermouth based on their flavor profiles that compliment each other. If you're using a dry gin that is heavy on the juniper, choosing a fruitier vermouth will help to balance and round out your drink where a vermouth that is really herbal may lead to a drink that's too sharp and bitter. Your choice of bitters can also help to balance this out, orange bitters that leans heavily into baking spices could clash, but one that is bright and lightly floral will bring harmony.
Classic Martini
2 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz dry vermouth
4 dashes Orange Bitters
Lemon twist or olive for garnish
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass, fill with ice, and stir till well chilled (60 seconds). Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass, preferably chilled. Garnish with your choice of twist or olive.
The Dirty Martini
The addition of a splash of olive brine to a classic martini makes for a slightly salty, savory drink that can almost stand in for an appetizer if you have enough olives for garnish. You'll also see a variety of olive choices that can make the garnish a personal expression of sorts. Blue cheese or almond stuffed olives, Castelvetrano or Cerignola olives, choose a garnish that suits you. While orange bitters can still work with the addition of olive brine, I prefer a zestier citrus bitters like our Lime Coriander.
Dirty Martini
2 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1/2 oz olive brine
4 dashes Lime Coriander Bitters
olives to garnish
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass, fill with ice, and stir till well chilled (60 seconds). Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass, preferably chilled. Garnish with olives.
Gibson
The Gibson martini is a unique variation that uses pickled cocktail onions for the garnish. This adds a tangy, sweet/savory flavor to the cocktail, making it a favorite among those who enjoy a more complex taste profile. For a Gibson, I really enjoy the contrast of our Grapefruit bitters with the onion garnish. They are bright and citrusy with a light floral note that makes for an interesting and sophisticated martini.
Gibson
2 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz dry vermouth
4 dashes Grapefruit Bitters
2-4 cocktail onions
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass, fill with ice, and stir till well chilled (60 seconds). Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass, preferably chilled. Garnish with cocktail onions.
Vodka Martini
A vodka martini offers a smoother and slightly sweeter taste compared to the classic gin martini. And yes, this is really only worth making with a high quality vodka that does have some flavor. I'm a fan of wheat or potato vodka that isn't overly distilled so you get a creamy mouthfeel and flavor that goes beautifully with orange bitters. A vodka martin can also benefit from a fruitier vermouth, even a blanc instead of a dry.
Vodka Martini
2 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz dry or blanc vermouth
4 dashes Orange Bitters
Orange twist for garnish
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass, fill with ice, and stir till well chilled (60 seconds). Strain into a coupe or cocktail glass, preferably chilled. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
With just a few simple tweaks a martini really can be a cocktail for almost anyone. There is no denying the timeless appeal. The simplicity of it invites experimentation and really lets the ingredients you choose shine. So have fun with it, try out different gins, vodkas, vermouths, and bitters to find your perfect combination.