Martinis
Ordering martinis can be confusing. Generally speaking when you say "Dry" what you're asking for is less vermouth. If you say "Dirty" you want brine in it. If you say "Classic" you want the vermouth to make some noise.
Here's a real simple breakdown of common orders:
Classic Martini: Gin and Vermouth. Between 3 to1 and 5 to 1 ratio. So that's about 2.25 oz gin and .75 oz of vermouth (dry vermouth which is clear and usually in a green bottle). Stirred and served up with an olive or a lemon twist.
Dry Martini: Dry means less vermouth. So maybe 2.5oz gin and .5oz vermouth.
Extra dry: Keep going. 2.75oz gin and .25oz vermouth.
Vodka Martini. Uses vodka instead of gin. Usually a little less vermouth. A classic Vodka martini would 2.5oz vodka to .5oz vermouth.
Dirty Martini: Can be either gin or vodka but adds between .25oz and .5oz of brine usually from a jar of olives. Extra dirty or "filthy" can get up to a full oz of brine in the drink.
Perfect Martini: Again can be either gin or vodka but uses equal parts sweet and dry vermouth. It will be a little darker and sweeter.
Gibson Martini: A grown-up dirty martini. It comes with a cocktail onion and uses a splash of the brine from the onions instead of the olives. So a touch more vinegar forward rather than salty.
Vesper Martini: Look Bond didn't know what he was doing when he ordered this. Or at least the drink wasn't the important part. But generally a Vesper has gin and vodka in it along with a bitter apperitivo like Cocchi Americano or Lillet in it. Often a splash of orange bitters.
It's worth trying them a few different ways to make sure you know what you actually like. Martinis are trendy and right now extra extra dry or bone dry martinis (NO VERMOUTH PLEASE) are super popular. But that doesn't make them better. Order a classic martini and a dry one and see which you like better. Good vermouth makes a huge difference and also tones down the alcohol a little bit.
But drink what you like as always. If you want a dirty tequila martini go for it, just make sure you actually like it.
That's the lesson for today.














