How to Make a Vodka Martini

The martini is one of the most famous cocktails ever in history. Being displayed in films, television, and magazines, it has become one of the staple cocktails anyone should know how to make. The martini glass alone has it’s own history and background, primarily revolving around: why is a martini glass shaped the way it is? There is also some of the martini’s history listed there so it’s definitely worth a look.

But you want to drink like James Bond right? You want a vodka martini, possibly even shaken not stirred (or as Sean Connery would say it, “shtirrrddd”). Yes, it was in fact James Bond who made popular the vodka martini in the 1960’s. From that point forward, it became acceptable to order a martini with vodka instead of gin. This further catapulted vodka as one of the leaders in spirits and alcohols.

Shaken Or Stirred?

One of the first things to realize is that there really is a difference when deciding on drinking a martini shaken vs stirred. In fact, Mythbusters did a little segment on it for their James Bond episode. HOWEVER, before you go getting purist on me and suggesting that it should always be stirred, realize that this is a vodka martini and not gin. A lot of martini purists believe that shaking the cocktail “bruises the gin” and dilutes the flavor. Vodka is by definition flavorless and odorless, so the only thing that comes into play is the dilution of the mixed drink by any excess ice fragments broken off and added to the drink. I would suggest making a martini using both methods and deciding which way you prefer best.

There many different kinds of martini recipes, mostly differing in the ratio of vodka to vermouth. Some call for olives, some don’t. Some call for a twist of lemon, so don’t. In my opinion, a martini needs an accenting garnish like one of these. I prefer the olive for its taste and it’s powerful imagery to the drink and so that’s the garnish we will use.

Ingredients needed to make a Vodka Martini:

• Vodka
• Dry Vermouth
• ice
• green olive
• martini glass
• cocktail shaker or large glass

How to Make a Vodka Martini (Stirred):

1. 

   Take a cup full of ice and fill your martini glass to brim.
   You want your glass to chill while you are making this cocktail.

2. Take your cocktail shaker or large glass and fill it halfway with ice.
   Easy enough?
3. Pour 3-4 ounces of vodka into your glass.
   A martini is basically a double shot of vodka, so around 3-4 ounces should be good.
4. Pour about 1 teaspoon of Vermouth into your glass.
   This is the part that is going to take some practice. Vermouth is just a mild and subtle flavor in this drink and there doesn’t need to be much of it. Start out 1 teaspoon for now, and experiment with adding more. It will be up to your discretion.
5. Take a long metal spoon and gently mix the cocktail in the glass or shaker. 
   Give the cocktail a good 5 second stir.
6. Dump out the ice in your martini glass and sift your cocktail into the glass. 
   You can use a bar sifter or use the two-cup technique. Just make sure you don’t get any ice into your cocktail. It should be clear.
7. Drop in a speared green olive for taste and look.
   Adding one is mainly for aesthetic reasons, but some like 2 or 3 olives to enjoy the salty flavor of the olive with their martini.

Go the Extra Mile:

• Adding olive juice to your martini will make a Dirty Martini
• Asking for a Dry Martini refers to the amount of dry vermouth added.
• Asking for a Martini with a Twist is where they add a twist of lemon peel to your cocktail while mixing it.
• Adding a black olive instead of a green olive would make it a Buckeye.
• Adding a cocktail onion instead of a green olive would make it a Gibson.
• Adding a shot of scotch would make it a Smoke Martini.