How To Prepare An Expertly Crafted Classic Martini
To achieve the best possible cocktail, first be sure to accurately measure your gin and vermouth. Use a jigger with pour lines rather than a shot glass. Add the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill the glass about three quarters with ice fresh from the freezer.
Now, use a long-handled bar spoon to stir, cradling the ice with the spoon and gently swirling it through the liquid. Aim to stir about thirty times. Youll usually know your Martini is ready when the outside of the glass begins to frost over.
Place a Julep strainer over the glass and strain the liquid into a chilled martini or coupe glass. Freeze your glasses ahead of time or chill them quickly by placing ice cubes and water in the glass while you prepare your drink. Discard the ice water just before straining.
If garnishing with lemon, express the peel over the surface of the drink and then run it along the rim of the glass. You can drop the peel into the drink, or discard it. If garnishing with olives, place one or three on a cocktail pick and rest it inside the glass.
The Case For Filthy Soppingwet Martinis Martini Serious Eats
This mode of preparation has fallen out of fashion in recent years, but thereâs no shame in ordering it. It contains less vermouth than a wet martini. A dry martini is a cocktail made with dry vermouth and gin. Pour the vodka or gin into a shaker filled with ice.
Wet martinis have a higher proportion of vermouth to gin. As a result, the taste of gin is more pronounced. The more vermouth you add, the âwetterâ your martini is. And donât forget about the olives! Add 2 or more olives to garnish and serve.
There are different versions of martini, such as wet martini, dry martini, and. A dry martini is a cocktail made with dry vermouth and gin. Fittingly enough, the opposite of a dry martini is a wet martini. A standard dry martini contains 5 or 6 parts gin to 1 part vermouth. The term dry martini originally described a martini made with white vermouth, which tends to be drier than other types of vermouth.
It contains less vermouth than a wet martini. This mode of preparation has fallen out of fashion in recent years, but thereâs no shame in ordering it. Add 2 or more olives to garnish and serve. A classic wet martini has about 3 parts gin/vodka to 1 part vermouth. There are different versions of martini, such as wet martini, dry martini, and.
How Do I Order It
Follow the three easy steps: style, spirit, garnish, says Lawrence. For example: dry, gin, with a twist or dirty, vodka, with an olive. Obviously, making sure you ask politely not only demonstrates good manners but means the bartender will probably care more about your drink.
If you know the brand of spirit you want, better still. It always sounds impressive if you know which spirit you prefer, says Balazs Nagy head bartender at the excellent London cocktail bar Anthracite. For example, please may I have an extra dry Beluga vodka martini with olives? If youre not sure on the brand or type for you, then its best to describe your favourite flavour notes, such as classic, dry, or spicy.
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How To Order A Martini At A Bar
Now that you understand the components of a Martini, lets dive into the ways you can personalize this classic when ordering one out.
SPIRIT: Because both gin and vodka are popular options, be sure to specify which spirit, and even which brand, if you know the bar has it. If you dont request a certain brand, youll be given whatever the bars well bottle is, which might not be your favorite.
STYLE: Next you can specify if youd like the drink to be prepared dry, wet, or dirty. These are customizations, so you dont have to state one when ordering your drink. But if you know you like it a certain way, its helpful to mention it to the bartender.
A classic Martini is already a Dry Martini, so theres really no need to specify dry unless you want very little vermouth. And although its a popular joke that the vermouth in a Martini is somehow superfluous, its not. Without the vermouth, youd just be left with a harshly boozy glass of watered down gin.
Requesting a wet Martini will get you one with a larger proportion of vermouth, while a dirty Martini is one that has olive brine added for salinity.
PREPARATION: Thanks to James Bond, its not uncommon to request that your Martini be shaken or stirred, for that matter. More on that below.
GARNISH: Lastly, you can request your preferred garnish olives or a lemon twist.
Examples: Id like a wet Plymouth martini with olives. Ill have a shaken vodka Martini with a twist.
Whats The Deal With Shaken Vs Stirred Martinis
More polarizing than the Dirty Martini itself, is the question whether to shake or stir a Martini. Heres what Ive been told by bartenders for years: If your drink contains any fluids other than alcohol , shake it. But popular cultureand specifically the stories of a particular British spy who goes by 007tells us that a Martini, composed solely of alcohol, can also be shaken. So, is there a right answer? No.
Like anything you eat and drink, your personal preference and taste can dictate how things can be done. I have a friend who only likes Martinis when theyre shaken, because they enjoy the bits of floating ice in the drink. Personally, I would not be happy to get a drink with a sea of ice floating on top, so I have mine stirred.
If youre not sure which is best for you, try both! Maybe not in one sitting, but taste and see what you enjoy and what works for you.
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Whats A Dirty Martini
The Dirty Martini has been around since the early 1900s, initially made with muddled olives, and later with a bar spoon of olive brine. But it was the 1990s that saw the onslaught of bars shaking up this polarizing drink. If you order this drink while out, be prepared for a variety of notions on just how much olive brine is supposed to go in it. You frankly dont need a massive glug of olive juice to get the full effect, but lets talk about what should go into the drink.
Traditionally, a Martini calls for a gin base. One made with vodka is technically a Kangaroo but youd be flexing your obscure cocktail knowledge with that jargon and probably get a raised eyebrow.
With a Dirty Martini, youre looking for a base that will work with that briny olive taste, so start with a London Dry gin like Beefeater, or a neutral, non-flavored vodka.
Steer clear of new American-style gins that incorporate many flavors beyond juniper, as their flavor profiles will often compete or clash with the olive brine.
Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski
Here 21 Simple Recipes For The Timeless Template
Though the classic Martini recipe is a simple oneonly two ingredients in its most austere formit has inspired more debate than any other over the proper ingredients , ratio and garnish . More than a centurys worth of fine-tuning has resulted in a deep library of both classic and modern iterations that run the full gamut of both style and flavor. Some, such as the Alberto with its minimalist equal-parts build, value simplicity, while others, like Christine Wisemans Trash-Tini, take a kitchen-sink approach. Some veer floral and aromatic, as the Gin Blossom does, while others are unabashedly savoryMSG Martini, anyone? Here, our favorite takes on the timeless template.
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What Is A Dirty Wet Martini
There is less vermouth in it, so it is drier. Martinis that are wet. Usually this refers to a sweeter Martini than a normal Martini. Vermouth makes your Martini wetter so add more if you want a more wet drink. It is classic for gin/vodka to be mixed with one part vermouth in a wet martini. The dirty Martini is made by adding olive brine to the drink.
How Many Classic Dirty Vodka Martinis Should I Drink
According to The Spruce Eats, “The vodka martini follows suit with the gin martini, Manhattan, and other liquor-vermouth combo cocktails: They’re not light drinks. With an 80-proof vodka and the average vermouth in this recipe’s ratio, it mixes up to about 28 percent ABV . To put that into perspective, two martinis are stronger than a straight shot of vodka. Sip slowly and know your personal limit.”
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How To Drink A Vodka Martini
Similar to the Vesper Martini, the vodka martini should be had only when wearing your finest tuxedo, either out at a bar or formal event, or when hosting your own dinner party. As with any other spirit-only drink, the spirit needs to be great to really shine, so plenty of fun can be found in experimenting with different vodkas and dry vermouth variations.
Ollys Insane Dirty Vodka Martini
Our friend Oliver teaches us how to whip up an insanely good dirty martini.
2 ½ shots of ice-cold Grey Goose vodka
½ shot dry vermouth
4 teaspoons of olive brine (though I always ask how dirty they like it
3 large green olives
equipment
atomizer for the vermouth I coat the inside of the glass before I pour the martini in, as I think it makes the taste a little smoother. This step is not completely necessary in a dirty martini but in a normal one, I highly recommend you do this.
cocktail shaker
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How To Make A Martini
The other amazing thing about a martini is how easy they are to make. Simply choose your ingredients, your ratio of liquor to vermouth, if you want it dirty, and any other garnishes. Add the vermouth, liquor and olive brine if you’re using it to a cocktail mixer half filled with ice. Stir for 45 seconds, and then pour. Garnish as you please.
Pro tip: Put your martini glasses in the freezer for 10 minute before you serve them, so the whole thing is icy cold.
How To Make A Martini With Olives
Whether you prefer a dry martini, a dirty martini or you have no idea what the difference is, we have everything you need to know about how to make a martini, including a primer on all the martini lingo.
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You know that craving that deep, insatiable need for something savory and salty? For me, it hits at night and I find myself breaking out a box of crackers and the most herb-packed or pungent cheese I have in the fridge, then pairing it all with some tangy, delicious olives.
While I admit my greatest temptations are desserts and fruit-infused drinks, I definitely appreciate savory offerings as well.
Fortunately, when I satisfy my cravings with European olives, I am actually indulging in a healthy treat!
Olives are a natural source of vitamin E. that contribute to the protection of cells against oxidative damage and against free radicals. Also a source of fiber, and a good source of iron, which contributes to the formation of red blood cells.
The caloric content of table olives is around 150 kcal per 100 g. So, seven olives have a caloric content of 37 kcal.!
Manzanilla olives, which we have used in our martinis, have a smooth texture and are not bitter. The popular European Manzanilla olive variety pairs beautifully with almost any ingredient peppers, anchovies, cheese and it is perfect for martinis!
SO, in the spirit of celebrating the scrumptious goodness of European olives, I propose a toast
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How Do You Order A Dirty Vodka Martini
Having a dirty or extra dirty martini means using olive juice, brine, and garnishing with an olive. Having a bone-dry martini means using as little or no vermouth as possible. There are many names for vodka martinis, including Kangaroo. In Casino Royale, Bond orders Vesper by mixing three parts gin, one part vodka, and a half part Lillet Blanc.
Make Your Own Olive Brine
If your local market has an olive bar filled with gourmet olives, use them to make olive brine. It is effortless and allows you to customize the selection of olives, even adding a variety to a single jar.
The best part is that you are in control of the juice and can formulate it to suit your taste perfectly. This simple DIY project can save the die-hard dirty martini drinker a considerable amount of money. As a bonus, you also get a custom choice of olives for garnishing all of your martinis.
To make a basic brine, you will need 2 cups of green olives, 2 cups water, 1/2 cup dry vermouth, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 tablespoons salt. Any of these can be adjusted to taste as you perfect your recipe.
Place the olives in a glass jar with a tight-sealing lid. Recycled olive jars are a natural choice, and Mason jars work great as well.
Gently press the olives with the back of a wooden spoon firmly enough to release their juice. Try not to smash them as if you’re muddling fruit for a cocktail.
In a bowl, combine the other ingredients and mix well.
Pour the liquid over the olives until they are completely covered. Leave a little room for air at the top of the jar.
Seal the jar and shake it vigorously.
Refrigerate for at least one day and shake before using the juice.
If your juice gets a little low for the olives left in the jar, add more vermouth and give the mix a good shake.
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What Makes A Good Martini
While the favoured technique can vary, all bartenders agree on one thing: the drink must be served ice cold. You need good-quality ice, completely frozen glassware, high-quality spirit and proper technique, says Alex Lawrence, co-founder of Porters Gin and head of bars for Mr Lyan. But the most important thing is that its served cold for it to be enjoyable. Were essentially talking about drinking a neat, clear spirit so temperature and dilution rule above everything else.
How Do You Take Your Martini
Gin or vodka, dry or wet, classic or dirty, shaken or stirred there is a myriad of olive martini variations, and the only person who can define your perfect martini with olives is you!
But if you are not sure what the difference is between a dry or wet martini or how to make a dirty martini or you are a little overwhelmed with all the martini lingo, lets get you up to speed
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Why Is It Called A Dirty Martini
While it may not sound all that appealing, a dirty martini is actually a flavor packed twist on the traditional cocktail. The classic martini, which contains gin or vodka and dry vermouth, is very clean, dry, and aromatic. The drink is perfectly clear because it only uses clear-colored liquors.
However, when you add a splash of California olive juice or brine, it adds a cloudy appearance and interesting character to the drink that disrupts the clean flavors but still tastes great.
What Can I Use Instead Of Vermouth In A Dirty Martini
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What Is The Difference Between A Vodka Martini And A Gin Martini
Most cocktail professionals will agree that piney flavored gin was originally used in the first Martini recipe. However, post-vodka craze in America, bartenders and mixologists began using vodka in place of gin to suit Americans flavor palates.
Gin lends a more complex, juniper-influenced flavor profile to a classic martini, whereas vodka will provide a smoother, simpler taste profile.
How To Garnish A Dirty Martini
I am a believer that a garnish should not be purely ornamental but should represent an element of the cocktail. If youre drinking a Dirty Martini, the appropriate garnish is an oliveor a few, depending on your preference. But you can get creative with the types of olives used.
The standard is green olives, and if I go that route, Castelvetrano olives are my pick. Theyre big, green, buttery, firm olives and one or two are a decent size for a coupe glass.
However, I also am a fan of stuffed olives and if theyre available, blue cheese stuffed olives have a piquant tang that complements the brine without overpowering the drink. Other choices include tuna or anchovy, or the standard pimento.
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How To Serve It:
The iconic martini glass is obviously a go-to, but my issue with that is that THEY ARE SO GIGANTIC! I have an enormous pet peeve about serving a 3.5 oz drink in an 8 oz glass. Like why. They look ridiculous and are so difficult to drink out of. If you manage to find a 5 oz martini glass, amazing, or use a Nick and Nora, but I will admit, the shape is significantly less cool for this drink. But again, like everything else in bartending, do what feels good to you. Serve it in a highball, it’s still going to taste good.