How To Make EVERY Gin Martini
Martini cocktail guide cover photo. two of the gin martini recipes | twist and dirty.
Table of Contents
The gin martini is one of the most well known and popular cocktails ever. Whether you love them, hate them or never tried one. The chances are, you’ve heard of the martini cocktail. But where did this classic cocktail come from? And how exactly do you order one?
Throughout this gin martini guide we will discuss all the elements that make one of the most sophisticated cocktails known to man (and woman). The classic gin martini recipes, terminology, how to order one, make one at home and the history behind them.
Ordering a gin martini cocktail can be stressful for someone who has never had one before. It’s frustrating, you want to try one but are worried you will order it wrong, or be unprepared for them dreaded follow up questions. Such as “Olive or twist?”
To be honest, this should never be a worry. A good bartender will always be willing to guide you and educate you without making you feel foolish for not knowing what you’re talking about.
Luckily, whether you feel comfortable or not doesn’t matter. In this day and age we have the ability to make fine-dining restaurant styled martinis in the comfort of our own home for a fifth of the price. We can re-create the best gin martini recipes in the comfort of our own home. Which i will help you achieve throughout this post.
Before we get into the terminology of ordering and making the best gin martini and the styles and variations there are with this cocktail. We will first cover some basics: The cocktail history of the classic gin martini, Ingredients used, classic gin martini recipes and the details in making a martini.
Two gin martini recipes - Dirty martini and lemon twist photo.
Substitute Gin for Vodka
It’s good to note that the Vodka martini is a twist on the martini we won’t cover in this post. This post is all about gin martini’s. If you don’t like gin and prefer to use vodka for your martinis you can do so.
All the terminologies and styles are the same, just switch out the gin for vodka. This applies to all the terms and styles apart from the vesper martini. Due to the fact that the Vesper martini uses both Vodka and Gin. Which we will discuss in more detail shortly.
Two gin martini recipes - cocktails photo.
Brief History of the gin martini
The gin martini has countless stories and claims to origins. It’s almost impossible to pin down an exact gin martini recipe creator or origin. However, there are a few stories that stand out and make more sense than others…
The Martinez
The Martinez is a town in California which claims to be the origin town of the martini. As Well as the Martinez cocktail, which is thought to pre-date the Martini. Martinis' older sister if you will. The Martinez recipe is a combination of Gin, sweet vermouth and Maraschino liqueur with a dash of orange bitters.
It’s said that in 1870 a bartender named Julio Richelieu’s was making a Martinez and dropped an olive in the cocktail before serving it. And so birthed the Martini.
Martinez cocktail photo.
The brand Martini
Martini is a brand of vermouth that you have probably heard of, established in the 1860s. Which gave the martini its creative cocktail name… The martini.
Although there are other stories about the origins of this classic cocktail recipe. Those two stories are the most credited. Whether it was a creation of a Californian bartender or the creators of Martini vermouth, what most can agree on is that the martini cocktail evolved from the classic Martinez cocktail.
Martini brand photo. Image source.
Ultimate gin guide
To truly understand this classic cocktail and the history behind it. You first need to understand the dominant ingredient within the cocktail. The gin. Below is my ultimate guide on everything you need to know on gin. Its history, how it’s made and the botanicals used, to fully understand this spirit.
Ultimate gin guide photo. Gin lane.
Which Gin to use
Gin is the main ingredient of any gin martini recipe. With that being said, it’s important to consider the type of gin you use. While a cocktail that relies heavily on other ingredients such as bee’s knee’s. The type of gin is less important.
In a martini, the character of the gin will really come through. I use Gin Mare a lot in my Martinis. The botanical mix of olive, Basil and rosemary is a flavour I really like and gravitate to. That’s my personal preference. That savoury twist with a citrus balance.
However, this gin wouldn’t suit all martini recipes. Dirty martinis work well because Gin Mare has quite a savoury taste to it. In a wet martini with a lemon twist, I would be much more likely to grab a bottle of Martin Millers or Sipsmith.
Below is a brief guide on the Gins i recommend using in your gin martini recipes and where to buy them from. Click each one for more information:
Gin Martinis with a lemon twist:
Dirty Martinis
What is Vermouth and which should I use in my Gin Martini recipe
The second part of our cocktails will rely on vermouth. The type of vermouth we use is important. But firstly, what is vermouth?
In short, Vermouth is a fortified wine infused with different botanicals and spices. Vermouth starts its life much the same way as wine. Fermenting wine grapes to create a low ABV wine. That wine is then flavoured with a variety of botanicals and spices.
Extra alcohol is then added to fortify the wine Usually a brandy or grape based distilled spirit. In the case of sweet vermouth, A sugar syrup and colouring’s may also be added. The vermouth can then be aged or matured before bottling and selling.
Dry vermouth is noticeably clear in colour with barely any sweetness. Sweet vermouth is red in colour and as the name suggests, is on the opposite end of the sweetness scale.
For the majority of our martinis we will use dry vermouth. The only exception being a perfect martini which still uses dry vermouth, but also has sweet vermouth in the recipe.
As for which dry vermouth to use. Noilly prat is a bartender's favourite. For Vesper martinis the choice should always be lillet blanc. And for creating Perfect martinis you will need that sweet vermouth. The popular brand and go to sweet vermouth for most bartenders is Antica Formule.
Of course these are just my recommendations. For a lot of home bars the brand “Martini” will be the classic go to. They make both a brand of dry and sweet vermouth, which is cheap and easily got from most shops and supermarkets.
The devils in the detail
You may not notice the subtle differences between a dry martini and an extra dry martini. Which is okay. Most people don’t. But for someone who has been drinking them for years. They will notice the difference.
They may not necessarily complain if they order a extra dry martini and you make them a dry martini (Unless they are pretentious nobheads” But getting the recipe correct and the best martini recipe for them could be the difference between a healthy cash tip or nothing at all.
With Gin martini recipes being so simple to follow. Mostly two ingredients stirred down and strained out. Putting in the extra care and detail where you can really makes the difference between a memorable martini and forgettable one. The martini is an easy cocktail to forget due to the fact the recipe does not change that vastly from bartender to bartender.
So making an impression is difficult. Or is it? Asking questions and showcasing your martini knowledge to make sure they get the martini they want is the first step to separate you from the majority of bartenders. Making sure the glass is ice cold and you taste your martini as you mix it are the details that show your passion for the craft.
In a bar I used to manage, we had a small freezer under the bar. In that freezer I had a decanter of gin and martini glasses. So every time someone ordered a gin martini from me they got ice cold gin poured from a beautiful crystal decanter. Those are the details that made me tips with almost every gin martini I made. Those are the details that got people saying “My friend had the best gin martini here”
The recipe was much the same, if not exactly the same as all the surrounding bars. The difference that made my gin martini the best gin martini was the care to the details I took.
Decanter martini cocktail photo for gin martini recipe.
So, to make your gin martini the best gin martini you can. A gin martini to compete with them posh 5 star bar destinations, there are a few details to keep in mind;
Ice: When stirring your martini, fill you mixing glass full to the brim with fresh cubed ice straight from the freezer.
Glassware: Whether you’re using a nick and Nora, Coupette or classic martini glass. Make sure it's ice cold. Store your glass in the freezer for at least 20 Minutes before mixing up your gin martini recipe.
Lemon twist: If opting to garnish your martini with a lemon twist, don’t just peel a lemon and drop the peel in. Take care with your garnishing. Peel you lemon, cut that peel into a neat shape. Squeeze it over the finished martini to express the oils within the martini, rub the peel around the rim of the glass and up and down the stem before giving it a final twist and dropping it in your gin martini.
Rubbing it around the rim means you get a burst of citrus with every sip. Rubbing it up and down the stem means you get those lemon oils on your finger tips. You’ll be smelling lemon and thinking about your martini long after finishing it.
Colder is better: Keep your vermouth in the fridge and your gin in the freezer.
Gin martini sweetness scale
Below is my scale of gin martini sweetness. On the far left shows the driest “less sweet” martinis and the far right shows the sweetest martini recipes.
Martini sweetness scale for a gin martini recipe.
The 7 Classic Gin Martini Recipes
Extra dry Martini Recipe
On a scale of sweetness, dry is at the opposite end. If you’re the type of person that likes a bit of sweetness in your gin martini recipe then this recipe isn’t the best for you. You want to start your martini journey at a “wet” gin martini. Recipe below.
However, if you love the taste of gin and want your martini dominated by juniper then this is the recipe for you.
Although you could use any gin you like in this recipe. Being that we are aiming for “dry” Not sweet our best bet is a London dry gin. Luckily, there are no shortages of London dry gin to try.
Pouring out the vermouth: Something you will notice from this recipe is that we add 10 millilitres of dry vermouth, then we tip it out. Why do we do this? We want a touch of vermouth in this drink. Enough for the essence of vermouth to linger in our drink but not enough to sweeten the drink. I have found the best way to do this is by coating the ice cubes with vermouth by stirring your vermouth round the ice, then pouring it out.
You will lose the majority of vermouth but not all of it. A lot of it will be coated on the ice cubes you use to stir your gin.
Winston Churchill was known to be a fan of a extra dry martini. Or as some may call it, an extra extra dry martini. The Churchill martini as it’s called is made by stirring down gin with an open bottle of Vermouth in the room but none of it added. He has been quoted saying the drink should “Glance at the vermouth bottle briefly while pouring the juniper distillate freely”.
Extra dry martini recipe photo.
Ingredients
60ml London dry Gin
10ml Dry Vermouth
Lemon twist or Olive
Method
Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
Use a julep strainer to pour out the vermouth.
Add the gin.
Stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with either a lemon peel twist or olive.
Dry Martini Recipe
This is the classic Gin martini recipe. And whats considered the best gin martini recipe. When people order a Gin martini with no preference, this is the recipe you want to follow.
If you’re working in a bar you want to know all these recipes. Someone who knows how they like their martini’s will specify upon ordering, so having that gin martini knowledge will come in handy.
However, if you are only to remember one gin martini recipe. This is the one to remember.
Dry martini recipe photo.
Ingredients
60ml London dry Gin
10ml Dry Vermouth
Lemon twist or Olive
Method
Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with either a lemon peel twist or olive.
Wet Martini Recipe
I know what you’re thinking. “Aren't all martinis wet? They’re liquid”. The “wet” in this recipe refers to the amount of vermouth.
So, on the “how much vermouth to add to your martini recipe” scale. On one side you have extra extra dry, also known as the Churchill martini recipe, or the Bone-dry martini recipe. Meaning you will use hardly any, if not no vermouth. On the other end you have extra wet, also known as fifty fifty gin martini Which calls for a lot of vermouth.
In-fact, the fifty fifty martini calls for equal parts gin and vermouth. A vast difference from the Churchill martini that calls for the gin to “glance at a bottle of vermouth”.
Unlike the dry martinis above where we use a London dry gin, in wet recipes we can use sweeter gin brands and styles such as new world gin or old tom gin. For more on gin styles check out this gin guide here.
Wet martini recipe photo.
Ingredients
60ml Gin
20ml Dry Vermouth
Lemon twist or Olive
Method
Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with either a lemon peel twist or olive.
Perfect Martini Recipe
“Perfect” in cocktail talk refers to an equal mix of dry and sweet vermouth. Making a complex balance of vermouth. This is the same for any cocktail that has vermouth in the recipe, more commonly Manhattans.
It can be confusing. Dry and wet within martini recipes are terms that both refer to the vermouth, but rather the type of vermouth it refers to the amount of vermouth used. Perfect also refers to vermouth, but this time instead of the amount, it refers to the type of vermouth.
I’ll give you a second to comprehend that. I needed more than a second myself.
You can make a perfect martini with a mix of 5ml dry vermouth and 5ml sweet or 15ml dry vermouth and 15ml sweet. The amount doesn’t change the fact it’s a perfect martini. Only that you have a mix of both dry and sweet vermouth within the martini recipe.
Perfect martini recipe photo.
Ingredients
50ml Gin
10ml Dry Vermouth
10ml Sweet vermouth
Lemon twist
Method
Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon peel twist.
Dirty Martini Recipe
A Dirty martini recipe calls for the addition of olive brine. Olive brine gives the martini a merky look, hence the name dirty. Typically, Gin martinis are finished and garnish one of two ways. Either with a lemon twist, which adds a citrusy flavour and fresh lemon aroma to the martini. Or an olive, which gives a savoury finish to your martini.
For a Dirty Martini recipe, it’s the latter we are aiming for. You can make a dirty martini combined with any of the above martini recipes. For example, you could have an extra dry martini that’s dirty or a wet martini that’s dirty. They work together in harmony.
A question you should be asking when making a martini for someone is firstly, “How do you like your martinis” And secondly “Twist or Olive” Twist referring to a lemon twist, olive referring to a dirty martini.
Dirty martinis pair better with drier martinis. The dry and savoury combination generally makes for a preferred balance. Lemon twist and citrus forward martinis benefit most from wetter martinis.
Finally, as you can imagine. You can add more or less brine depending on how someone likes it. You could have a touch of brine or a larger portion known as an extra dirty gin martini.
For this recipe, we base the dirty martini of a dry martini. Being it’s the most popular option.
Dirty martini recipe photo.
Ingredients
60ml London Dry Gin
10ml Dry vermouth
1tsp/5ml Olive brine
Garnished with one olive
Method
Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
Add the vermouth and olive brine then stir for 10 seconds.
Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with one olive either spiked on a cocktail stick or spooned to the bottom of the glass.
Vesper Martini Recipe
As with many cocktails. Tracing the history can be difficult, for what seems like 90% of classic cocktails there are a lot of claims to the creation. Martini’s are no different in that, the history can be as mysterious as the terms used to order one.
However, the Vesper martini is different because we know exactly who invented it. The man behind the Vesper martini is named Ian Fleming. Who you may know from his writing, most popular being James Bond.
Whenever we think of a martini cocktail, we just cant help but think of James Bond ordering his specific “Shaken, not stirred” Martini. Which by the way is never how this cocktail should be made. Always stir your martini, do not shake.
The Vesper Martini was made famous in Fleming's first James Bond novel “Casino Royal” Published in 1953. In the book James Bond explains to a casino bartender exactly how to make the cocktail. “Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?'
And so the Vesper Martini was born. The vesper martini gets its name from fictional double agent Vesper Lynd in Casino Royal.
Unfortunately, if you wanted to make your vesper martini following the original recipe quoted above. You will be surely disappointed. First of all, Gordon’s gin has changed a lot since 1953 and secondly Kina Lillet no longer exists, The alternative available is Lillet Blanc.
Vesper martini recipe photo.
Ingredients
40ml Gin
20ml Vodka
10ml Lillet Blanc
Method
Combine all ingredients in a mixing jar filled with cubed ice.
Stir for 20 seconds or preferred dilution.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a large lemon twist.
Gibson Martini Recipe
The Gibson Martini is a lesser common martini recipe, but by no means does that make it a lesser quality martini. For this martini cocktail recipe we ditch the Lemon and olives in place of pickled onions.
In the early 20th century, graphic artist Charles Dana Gibson is said to have requested a pickled onion twist on the Martini while visiting a New York private social club “The Players”. However, like many cocktails, there are people that despite this as the Gibson’s origins.
Whatever the case may be or wherever the cocktail originated doesn’t matter. What does matter is that it's a delicious twist on the classic martini recipe. As with the perfect and dirty martini. You can turn any style of martini recipe into a Gibson. The recipe below uses a dry martini as the base, as it is the most popular variety of martini recipes.
Gibson martini recipe photo.
Ingredients
60ml London dry Gin
10ml Dry vermouth
1 pickled pearl onion
Method
Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with one pickled pearl onion either spiked on a cocktail stick or spooned to the bottom of the glass.
EVERY Gin Martini
Ingredients
Instructions
- Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
- Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
- Use a julep strainer to pour out the vermouth.
- Add the gin.
- Stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with either a lemon peel twist or olive.
- Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
- Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
- Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with either a lemon peel twist or olive.
- Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
- Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
- Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with either a lemon peel twist or olive.
- Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
- Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
- Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a lemon peel twist.
- Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
- Add the vermouth and olive brine then stir for 10 seconds.
- Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with one olive either spiked on a cocktail stick or spooned to the bottom of the glass.
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing jar filled with cubed ice.
- Stir for 20 seconds or preferred dilution.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a large lemon twist.
- Fill a mixing jar with cubed ice.
- Add the vermouth and stir for 10 seconds.
- Add the gin and stir for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with one pickled pearl onion either spiked on a cocktail stick or spooned to the bottom of the glass.
Notes
Once you've played around with each Gin Martini, why not suit the ratios to make your own SIGNATURE Gin Martini? To do this, start with a Dry Gin Martini, then up the vermouth, gin, or dilution until you've achieved your own perfect flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
116.42Fat
1.16 gSat. Fat
0.4 gCarbs
1.43 gFiber
0.07 gNet carbs
1.36 gSugar
0.54 gProtein
7.97 gSodium
43.42 mgCholesterol
20.92 mgThe nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
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