James Bond liked his with vodka “shaken not stirred”. Winston Churchill preferred his made with gin, with a bottle of vermouth present in the same room. Homer Simpson liked it “full of alcohol”. Whichever way you like your Martini, today 19 June is World Martini Day, if you ever need an excuse to drink.
Martini with a Twist
Back in 2012, we brought you the cheeky Men & Martini: What His Choice of Martini Reveals About Him. Today, it’s time to reveal the Top 7 Martinis, one for each day of the week.
But don’t get us started on fruity Martinis and those made with lychee, pomegranate, raspberry liqueurs and girly drinks. We like it strong, we like it punchy and we definitely like it sophisticated.
Dry Martini
A martini is in essence gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth, usually in a ratio of five to one but that is known to vary. If you order a Dry Martini, expect very little vermouth if any. If you like it very dry, swirl a little vermouth around the glass then discard. Add the gin and garnish with olives or a twist depending on your preference.
Wet Martini
A Wet Martini is simply one made with a higher ratio of vermouth and may suit a Martini novice or those who enjoy the flavour of the vermouth.
Vesper Martini
James Bond immortalised the Vesper Martini in Ian Fleming’s book Casino Royale in 1953. “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet (Lillet Blanc). Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large slice of lemon peel.” If you can’t handle the potency of the vodka and gin combination, a Reverse Vesper might be more suitable.
Dirty Martini
Like it a little dirty? The Dirty Martini has a little olive brine added to the mix of spirit and vermouth, stirred with ice, strained into a chilled glass and garnished with an olive.
Smoky Martini
For lovers of smoky whiskies, a Smoky Martini has a little splash of peated Islay whisky such as Ardbeg or Laphroaig added to the gin. Stir with ice and strain into a martini glass. Dry vermouth is optional.
Gibson
The Gibson is a take on the Martini, made with gin, dry vermouth and garnished with a duo of cocktail onions, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled glass.
Manhattan
We can’t mention the Martini without a tip of the hat to the Manhattan, considered to be the precursor to the Martini which in turn is said to have evolved from the Martinez. The Manhattan is a sweeter style of drink, made with bourbon or rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters. Garnish with twist or a maraschino cherry.
Thirsty? Check out our Top 10 Gins or Vodka reviews.
