The cocktail martini is a drink associated with power, class, and of course James Bond. But the drink's roots date back far before all of that, from a drink very different from what is commonly found in today's 'Martini Bars'. The term martini seems to have replaced cocktails in common usage, so there are hundreds of 'martini' recipes, ranging from classic martinis, flavored vodka martinis, dessert martinis to modern/trendy variations that resemble classic martinis just by type. glass used.
This article describes how to make a classic martini.
Ingredients
- 1.5 to 2 ounces (45 to 60 mL) gin
- 1 drop to 1 ounce (up to 30 mL) sweet and/or dry vermouth depending on taste.
- A pinch of bitter orange (optional)
- Ice
- Garnish – olives, lemon wedges, etc. (adding pearl onions will make this a Gibson brand drink)
Step
Step 1. Put the ice in the shaker
Do not be stingy; Ice is a necessary component for cooling and mixing other ingredients.
Step 2. Add as much gin as you like
Step 3. Add as much vermouth as you like
The amount and type of vermouth varies and depends on your taste (from a sprinkling to a small glass). Some people like their martini to be “perfect” – meaning it is made of 50% red vermouth (commonly referred to as the “Italian” or “sweet” type) and 50% white vermouth (commonly referred to as the “French” or “dry” type). Note: "perfect" in this context is a cocktail term referring to the vermouth mixture, and not a value judgment based on the taste of a martini made this way. With similar thoughts, one can order for example a glass of the “perfect” Manhattan.
- Optional: Shake and pour into a glass. Twist the vermouth in the glass to form a layer and then remove it. This will result in a drier martini.
- If you're using vodka, use a cocktail shaker, or mix in a martini by stirring. Use the bottom of a whisk to mix and stir if desired. Some people insist that the gin should not be shaken, but that it should be stirred constantly so as not to "injure" the gin. This is just a matter of personal choice. Try both ways and decide which one you like more!
- Optional: Add 1-2 drops of bitter orange juice. Be careful when adding it, as the slightest drop will completely change the taste. You will be able to feel the difference just by adding 1 drop because the concentration is very large. Start small and add more if you like..
Step 4. Stir or shake
The water produced by melting ice is an essential ingredient for a proper martini to soften the "hot" taste of the alcohol.
Step 5. Pour the ingredients into a cooled martini glass
Step 6. Decorate and drink
Step 7. Done
Tips
- 'Vodka martini' is usually called Kangaroo.
- Formally, different garnishes will make different drinks. For example, Gibson is a drink made using cocktail onions or 2 olives.
- To make a "smoky" martini, follow the recipe for a dirty martini and add a little malt scotch for a nice burning sensation.
- For a dirty martini, add a sprinkle of olive cider and extra olives for garnish. Try adding a portion of olive brine from a bottle or you can buy a special “Martini Kotor Sari Olive” from an internet vendor.
- The balance between vermouth and gin is a controversial issue among martini lovers. Try differentiating the amount of vermouth for yourself and determine which one you prefer. Your preference here is not something wrong.
- James Bond prefers his martinis 'Shaken, not stirred'. To add authenticity, add a little lemon. The original drink he drank was Vesper, which contained gin, vodka and Lillet, which is alcoholic wine (usually white wine).
- For garnish, choose from stuffed olives – pimento stuffed, bleu cheese stuffed, jalapeo stuffed, onion stuffed, almond stuffed, citrus stuffed, caper stuffed, and even anchovy stuffed (boxed goyas at supermarkets). Each type of stuffed olive has a different taste and saltiness.
- Chill the crystal martini glass in the freezer. You can also fill a glass with ice cubes and then remove it before pouring the martini. Be careful – this may cause your martini to be thinner.
- Use top quality gin whenever possible. Boodles, Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray 10 gin will make for an amazing, crystal clear martini. Don't be afraid to try exotic or hard-to-find gins like Plymouth (UK), Hendricks (Scotland) or Desert Juniper (Oregon).
- Vermouth is an essential component of a martini. A glass of cold gin without vermouth is just a glass of cold gin. There's nothing wrong with this, but it means the drink isn't a cocktail and it's definitely not a martini.
- Olives and cocktail onions are newer variations of the traditional martini (though they are both classic martini styles). The only real garnish is the lemon zest.
- Drink with someone who values martinis as an art form.
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Shake or stir? This is a matter of personal preference. Some martini drinkers prefer to stir, as they object to the foam that forms when the drink is shaken and claim that shaking "breaks" the gin and makes it taste bitter. Other martini lovers claim that whisking brings out the flavor from the gin, and they find that the foam that results from whisking will dissipate quickly.
Note: There was actually an article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), which claimed that a shaken martini contains more antioxidants than a stirred one and is healthier. However, the real context lies in the December 1999 issue of their journal. The BMJ usually saves the last issue of each year for humorous and hoax articles, unlike the "April Fools' Edition" of some American magazines. The fact that the popular media takes this article seriously and considers its conclusions to be true, only gives rise to protracted debate
Warning
- Never drink if you are going to drive.
- Always drink alcohol responsibly.
- Remember – a properly made martini can be addictive.
The Things You Need
- Martini Shaker
- Martini Glass
- Gin
- Vermouth
- Olives (green)
