A Martini means many things to many people – a simple cocktail with few ingredients, but how it is served has caused great divide amongst its avid following. Some will prefer Vodka over Gin, and some will say Olives over Lemon, and even fewer will recommend theirs shaken and not stirred. If you’ve never tried a Martini before here is our take on a great classic Institution – enjoyed by everyone from the Queen to James Bond!
A classic Martini is traditionally made with Gin (and not Vodka). Gin is distilled from grain or malt and botanical flavours most of which are Juniper-forward. Gin works because it dances really well with the herbal qualities of dry vermouth on the palate. Vermouth is a type of fortified wine, blended and infused with different herbs and botanicals.
So do you go all 007 or do you stir?
By rule of thumb if your cocktail contains only booze, then you stir (not shake). So by this mantra, a Martini should only ever be stirred. And although Mr Bond might feel otherwise, shaking can actually “bruise” the gin and mask the botanicals you want to savour.
A Martini should always be served up in a chilled glass, but the garnish you use is up to preference – Lemon Twist or Olives, it’s completely up to you.
What You Need
60ml of Gin
15ml of Dry Vermouth
Ice
Lemon peel twist or olives, for garnish
TOP TIP: Before you build your Martini, place your Martini glass in the freezer to chill
METHOD: Place the Gin and Dry Vermouth in a Cocktail Glass or Shaker. Add a good helping of ice and stir for half a minute until the Martini is nice and chilled. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a Chilled Classic Martini or Chilled Coupe Glass. Pare Lemon Peel, and pinch the back of the lemon peel over the Martini. Rub the lemon peel around the rim of the glass and drop in. If Lemon Peel is not your thing, feel free to garnish with speared Olives.
Cheers!