From retro to elegant and even everyday, having a classic gin martini recipe in your cocktail arsenal is a must!
This recipe has the perfect balance of gin to vermouth with a dash of orange bitters that will impress your guests and make you feel like a true mixologist!
Serve it on the rocks with olives or in a fancy jumbo martini glass with a twist of lemon.
A Classic Party Cocktail
- A timeless traditional cocktail that never goes out of style!
- Full of complex flavors, whether shaken (or stirred!) with a hint of bitters!
- Sophisticated yet simple, martinis only need a few ingredients and plenty of those signature glasses for a classy presentation.
- Make them to order and the guest will feel extra special! Serve some elegant appies too, such as crostini, ricotta toast, or caprese skewers.
Ingredients and Variations
Gin: Choose the highest quality spirits for martinis for the best results and the smoothest flavor. Tanqueray is a popular brand for martinis, but there are many other gin infusions to try, so feel free to experiment!
Not a fan of gin? Swap it out for vodka, using 2 ounces of vodka to 1 teaspoon of vermouth.
Vermouth: Vermouth is a fragrant fortified wine that balances out the gin and comes in a dry or sweet variety. This recipe uses dry vermouth, but sweet vermouth can be used (AKA a sweet martini).
Bitters: While optional, bitters are a blend of earthy spices like cardamom, anise, and orange peel that can add depth of flavor to a martini, old-fashioned cocktail, and negroni. Triple Sec is the closest substitute for bitters.
How to Order a Martini
When ordering a martini you first need to decide if you want a gin or vodka martini! Then you determine how much vermouth you want added by ordering a bone-dry, dry, wet, or classic martini.
- This recipe is for a dry martini, which has a lesser ratio of vermouth to gin, while a bone-dry martini leaves the vermouth out!
- A wet or ‘classic’ martini is an equal ratio of vermouth to gin or vodka.
- A ‘perfect martini’ blends equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth before adding the gin or vodka.
Here are a few more Martini terms you might want to know!
- Martinis can be neat, which means the alcohol is poured straight from the bottle instead of made in a shaker first.
- A dirty gin martini is made with a little olive juice (about an ounce) or brine added. While a “filthy” martini means more than an ounce is added!
How to Make a Gin Martini
- Place ice in a cocktail shaker, jar, or glass (per the recipe below).
- Add bitters (if using), gin, then vermouth.
- If using a shaker or jar, shake before pouring into a chilled glass. Or stir using a cocktail spoon, strain, and pour into a chilled glass.
- Garnish as desired and serve immediately.
Our Favorite Martini Garnishes
Host a cocktail party with a martini bar featuring a variety of garnishes!
Olives: Green olives, like Spanish or Manzanilla olives and even black kalamata olives, are the garnish of choice since they add a salty balance to the gin and vermouth. Be sure to get olives preserved in brine and not oil.
Citrus: Citrus garnishes like a twist of lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit peels are colorful and tangy.
Veggies: Try a thin slice of cucumber for an eye-catching garnish. Pickled vegetables are also a great choice!
Tips For The Best Traditional Martini
- Be sure to use a martini glass with its classic, iconic shape! Not only do they look great, but the inverted cone shape prevents the alcohol from separating and allows plenty of room for one or two garnishes, such as olives or onions.
- Chill martini glasses in the freezer for about 30 minutes before using them, or swirl ice water in the glass for about 30 seconds and discard just before adding the martini.
- Always use the best quality ingredients for the best martini!
Other Tasty Cocktails
Have you tried this Gin Martini recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!
Traditional Gin Martini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup ice
- 6 dashes orange bitters optional
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce dry vermouth
- 3 olives for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Place ice in a cocktail glass, jar, or cocktail shaker.
- Add bitters if using, then gin, and vermouth to the cocktail glass.
- Stir with a cocktail spoon*. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with olives if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- *If preferred, top jar or shaker with the lid and shake.
- We prefer to stir this divine drink.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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