Classic Martini
The martini is the gold standard of cocktails—crisp, elegant, and endlessly customizable. This recipe starts with the timeless blend of gin or vodka and dry vermouth, stirred (or shaken) over ice and served in a chilled glass.
Whether you prefer yours bone-dry, a little dirty with olive brine, or perfectly balanced with a lemon twist, this guide walks you through every option. From “extra dry” to “filthy,” stirred or shaken, this cocktail is as much about personal style as it is about ingredients—and once you find your version, you’ll never look back.
What you'll need:
2 ½ oz gin or vodka
½ oz dry vermouth
Ice
Garnish with a lemon twist (for gin) or green olive (for vodka)
How to make it:
Fill a mixing glass with ice.
Add gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth.
Stir (or shake—see notes below) for 30 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist (for gin) or a green olive (for vodka).
Stirred vs. Shaken:
Stirred: Traditional, smoother, keeps texture silky (used for gin)
Shaken: Colder, cloudier, more diluted (used for vodka and dirty versions—helps blend brine)
Liqueur Tips:
Vermouth is a fortified, aromatized wine—meaning it's wine that’s been infused with herbs, spices, and botanicals, then blended with a neutral spirit (like brandy) to preserve and intensify the flavor. It tastes like a light white wine with botanical complexity and a slightly bitter finish.
In a classic martini, the ideal gin is London Dry Gin—it’s clean, juniper-forward, and mixes beautifully with dry vermouth. It’s the most traditional choice and what bartenders usually reach for when making a standard martini.
Different Martini Styles:
A dirty martini includes olive brine (the salty liquid from the olive jar), giving it a savory, salty edge.
Slightly dirty: ~1/4 oz brine
Dirty: ~1/2 oz brine
Extra dirty/filthy: 3/4 oz or more
How to make a Dirty Martini:
2 ½ oz vodka
½ oz dry vermouth
½ oz olive brine
Shake with ice, strain, and garnish with 2–3 olives
Different Martini Styles:
Classic: Gin + Dry vermouth = Crisp, herbal, and aromatic
Vodka Martini: Vodka + Dry vermouth = Cleaner, smoother, less botanical
Dirty: Gin/Vodka + Dry vermouth + brine = Salty, savory, olive-forward
Dry Martini: Gin/Vodka + Just a splash of vermouth = Very spirit-forward
Extra Dry: Gin/Vodka + Barely any vermouth (sometimes just rinsed) = Almost pure alcohol
Wet Martini: Gin/Vodka + More vermouth (equal parts or 2:1 ratio) = Softer, more balanced
Perfect Martini: Gin/Vodka + Equal dry & sweet vermouth = A little sweeter, more nuanced
Gibson: Gin + Dry vermouth + Garnished with a cocktail onion