Three perfect classic martinis, one to fit everyone's taste buds. The classic gin martini for the traditionalist, the Cosmopolitan for those who like a little tart with their sweet, and the Strawberry Mint Martini which brings a fruity sweetness to the palate.
Any one of these martini recipes is perfect for National Martini Day, your next cocktail party, brunch, or girls' night out.
Table of contents
Best Martinis for National Martini Day
There is a perfect martini for just about everyone, but the recipe for this classic martini is one not many people can agree on. Is your favorite made with vodka or gin, shaken or stirred, wet or dry, or served with a twist of lemon or a skewer of olives? Or do you prefer the not-so-classic variety that comes with varying liquor bases, and offers wide range of flavors from creamy to sweet, dry to fruity, and coffee to chocolate?
The martinis I'm sharing below may have some people shouting "blasphemy" while others are exclaiming "oh, that is my kind of martini!" There are extra dry gin martinis with just a swish of vermouth in the glass, ones made exclusively of vodka or make it dirty with a slash of olive juice.
Then some martinis offer a little tart with a little sweet like a Cosmopolitan, or something totally sweet like our Strawberry Mint Martini. Whatever your preference, enjoy National Martini Day with your favorite style of martini. Cheers!
My favorite martinis include the Espresso Martini, a fruity Strawberry Martini, and a creamy, rich Pistachio Martini. Mix them up at your next cocktail party and you’ll be one popular host!
What is a Martini
The basic martini, as described by wikipedia, is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Famous writer H. L. Mencken described the Martini as "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet". And this classic cocktail even has its own national holiday on June 19th!
History of the Martini
Where it came from is debatable, one popular theory suggests that it started around 1863 by an Italian vermouth maker who marketed a product under the name of Martini that was half a glass of vermouth and half a glass of wine. This is now known today as Martini & Rossi.
Another theory is that it evolved from a cocktail called the Martinez served at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco around the 1860s. Of course, the people of Martinez say that a bartender there created it and named it after their town.
Still another theory links the first dry martini to the name of a bartender who concocted the drink at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City around 1911.
Best Gin for a Martini
Gin is the main flavor in the classic martini so you want one that is high quality offering the perfect blend of botanical flavors, the most prominent one being juniper. It is also the perfect pairing with dry vermouth and its strong herbal flavors.
- Ford's Gin
- Beefeater Gin
- Bombay Dry Gin/Bombay Sapphire
- Hendricks
- Plymouth Gin
Best Vermouth for a Martini
Dry vermouth is a type of fortified wine that is blended with varied herbs and botanicals. It adds unique and complex dimensions to this classic cocktail. You want a quality brand that will enhance the cocktail and pair with your chosen gin or vodka.
- Dolin (by far the favorite)
- Noilly Prat
Pro Tip: Keep vermouth in the refrigerator and it will keep well for up to 3 months.
Best Vodka for a Martini
The best vodka for a Vodka Martini, better known as a Kangaroo Martini, is a premium one that is smooth with a clean taste.
- Chopin
- Titos or Woody Creek Distillers (potato vodkas)
- Grey Goose Vodka (especially good in a Dirty Martini)
- Reyka Vodka
- Ketel One
Shaken or Stirred
There is an unwritten rule that if your cocktail contains only alcohol then stirring is recommended. A martini should definitely be stirred (don't listen to James Bond). Stirring mixes the flavors and chills the drink while shaking can "bruise" the gin, which means diminishing the flavor of the botanicals.
The Classic Martini
The classic martini is traditionally made with dry gin and dry vermouth in a 2:1 ratio and served with a dash or two of orange bitters and either a twist of lemon peel or olives. The newer version of the classic, a vodka martini, substitutes vodka for the gin and can be served with or without a splash of vermouth. And, of course, it needs to be served with olives, preferably those stuffed with blue cheese.
Ingredients for a Classic Martini
Gin (for the classic) - purchase a high-quality gin as this is the main flavor of a dry martini. London dry gin like Fords, Beefeater's gin and Bombay gin are popular choices.
or Vodka (for a modern Vodka Martini) - vodka makes this a less complex drink but again choose a high-quality vodka for the best flavor such as Titos or Chopin.
Dry Vermouth - adds complexity to the cocktail along the lines of citrus, floral, and herb accents. Dolin Dry Vermouth is considered the best.
Orange Bitters - produces more depth and complexity along with a hint of earthy undertones. The addition of bitters is optional.
Twist of Lemon for garnish - twisted over the glass to give the drink a little extra flavor.
How to Make a Dry Martini
- Fill a shaker with ice and add your favorite gin.
- Add a bit of vermouth.
- Sprinkle in a dash or two of orange bitters.
- Give it a stir and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with olives or a twist of lemon.
For a Dirty Martini just add ½ ounce of olive brine to the classic version above. Garnish with 2-4 olives.
Garnishes for a Dry Martini
First off, always serve a martini in a chilled glass. Place it in the freezer 10-15 minutes prior to serving. You can also add ice to the top of the glass and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
A lemon Twist is the preferred garnish but an orange twist can also be used. To slice, take the lemon and cut a ½" wide slice from the thickest part of the lemon. Cut the sections away from the peel, leaving as little white pith as possible. Cut a slit in the circle and wind the peel around a chopstick or round skewer. The warmth of your hand should help to hold the shape.
Squeeze the lemon twist over the martini, rub it along the rim, then drop it into the cocktail. If olives are preferred, refrain from dropping the twist into the cocktail and add a skewer of olives instead.
Cosmopolitan
Another variation is the well-known and popular Cosmopolitan, aka Cosmo. This cocktail is especially popular with women. It was first developed in the 1930s using gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, and raspberry syrup.
In the 1980s, a New York City bartender, Toby Cecchini, created the modern version consisting of Citron vodka and cranberry juice. This martini is a little bit tart, and a little bit sweet and the perfect drink for brunch, dinner parties, girls' night out, and with its beautiful pink color, for Valentine's Day too!
Ingredients for a Cosmopolitan
Vodka - or Citron vodka. I advise using a mid to high range premium vodka for the best flavor.
Cointreau - or you can substitute triple sec
Cranberry Juice Cocktail - adds a little sweetness with the tart
Lime Juice - fresh is best!
Twist of Orange for garnish - twist it over the drink and rub it around the rim for that extra special touch.
How to Make a Cosmopolitan
- Fill a shaker with ice. Add vodka.
- Pour in Cointreau.
- Add cranberry juice and lime juice.
- Give it a good shake to chill then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Strawberry Mint Martini
One more for the sweet and fruity cocktail lover, the Strawberry Mint Martini. This is one of my favorites and is perfect for brunch, by the pool, and summer parties. Here I've added crushed strawberries and mint with the vermouth and vodka. It's more of a light, not-so-serious, cocktail. If you like this type of cocktail you might also love our Whipped Blood Orange Tini that's both sweet and indulgent.
Ingredients for Strawberry Mint Martini
Vodka - again, a lot of flavor comes from the vodka so opt for a mid to high range for best flavor.
Fresh Strawberries - fresh is best but frozen thawed strawberries can also be used
Fresh Mint - muddle them well to extract all the flavor
Simple Syrup - only if needed. I like the sweet strawberries to sweeten mine naturally.
How to Make a Strawberry Mint Martini
- Place strawberries and mint in a cocktail shaker.
- Muddle well.
- Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka and simple syrup, if using.
- Shake well to chill then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a fresh strawberry.
It's time to mix up your favorite martini and raise a glass to National Martini Day! Cheers!
What to Serve with Martinis
Salty foods create the best pairing as well as other charcuterie board items and briny seafood. Here are some of my favorites:
- Oysters
- Olives, nuts, and pretzels
- Cheese and crackers
- Charcuterie meats such as prosciutto, pepperoni and salami
- Seafood like shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon
More Martinis for National Martini Day
Espresso Martini - with delicious coffee flavor that reminds me of a latte with a kick
Grapefruit Martini - the perfect summer cocktail, it's a martini with a citrusy twist
Pumpkin Spice Martini - a warm, creamy cocktail perfect for fall
Gingerbread Martini - a holiday-inspired cocktail complete with graham cracker rim
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Classic Martinis
Ingredients
Classic Martini
- 2 ounces gin (or vodka)
- 1 ounce dry vermouth
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters (optional)
- Garnish: twist of lemon or skewer of olives
Cosmopolitan
- 2 ounces vodka or Citron vodka
- 1 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
- 1 ounce cranberry juice cocktail
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- Garnish: orange peel/twist
Strawberry Mint Martini
- 3 ounces vodka
- 4-5 large strawberries, hulled reserve one for garnish
- 2-3 fresh mint leaves
- 1 - 1 ½ ounces simple syrup (optional)
Instructions
Classic Martini
- Place glasses and shaker in freezer for half hour prior to preparing drinks.
- When ready to serve, remove glasses and shaker from the freezer.
- (optional step) Pour a small amount of dry vermouth into the cold martini glass, swirl to coat then dump out.
- Fill the cold shaker with ice. Add gin or vodka and vermouth. Shake a few dashes of orange bitters into the mixture, if you prefer.
- Stir then pour into the ice-cold martini glass.
- Add a twist of lemon over the glass or a pick full of olives for garnish. (blue cheese stuffed olives are the best!)
Cosmopolitan
- Place martini glass in freezer for half hour.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.
- Add vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice. Shake.
- Remove glass from freezer and strain martini mixture into glass.
- Garnish with curl of orange peel.
Strawberry Mint Martini
- Place martini glass and shaker in freezer for half hour.
- Remove shaker and place strawberries into bottom.
- Add mint leaves and simple syrup, if using, and muddle or smash them to draw out the juice.
- Add crushed ice and vodka.
- Shake the mixture well then strain into the cold glass. Garnish with a strawberry.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been rewritten with more useful information and new photos. It was first published on June 19, 2014.
