Classic, elegant, and stiff, the martini is a simple fusion of gin and dry vermouth, stirred together with ice, and strained into a chilled glass. The main variables are the proportion of gin to vermouth, and what you choose to garnish with. This recipe uses a 2-to-1 for the former, though 4-to-1, even 5-to-1, is popular. For some, washing the martini glass with dry vermouth, then dumping the vermouth in the sink before stirring straight gin with ice, is just right. As for garnishing, adding a toothpicked green olive or two is strictly up to you.

To make this into a dirty martini—Franklin D. Roosevelt’s favorite—add a splash of olive brine from the jar and garnish with a green olive. A Gibson is made exactly like the martini, only garnished with a small cocktail onion.

  • Yields: 1 drink
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: Under 5 mins 
  • Active: Under 5 mins

Ingredients (5)

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce dry vermouth
  • Ice
  • Lemon twist, for garnish
  • Green olive (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place a martini glass in the freezer to chill, 10 minutes or longer.
  2. Measure the gin and vermouth into a mixing glass.
  3. Add ice and stir until chilled, about 30 seconds.
  4. Strain into the chilled martini glass.
  5. Rub the rim of the glass with the lemon twist, drop it into the martini, and serve.