Martini Recipe (Gin or Vodka, Dry to Dirty)

Name: Classic Dry Martini
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2.5 oz gin (or vodka); 0.5 oz dry vermouth; 1 to 3 green olives or 1 lemon twist, for garnish; Ice, for stirring and chilling

The Martini is the cleanest test of a bartender's touch: two ingredients, ice, and a garnish. Everything comes down to the spirit-to-vermouth ratio and how cold you get the drink. Below is a reliable house recipe plus a ratio chart so you can dial it from a soft, wet pour to a whisper-dry sip or a savory dirty version.

Classic Dry Martini

Förberedelse3 min

Total tid3 min

Portioner1

SvårighetEasy

Ingredienser

2.5 oz gin (or vodka)
0.5 oz dry vermouth
1 to 3 green olives or 1 lemon twist, for garnish
Ice, for stirring and chilling

Gör så här

Chill your Martini glass or coupe by filling it with ice and water while you build the drink.
Add the gin (or vodka) and dry vermouth to a mixing glass filled with fresh ice.
Stir smoothly for 30 to 40 seconds, until the outside of the mixing glass frosts.
Discard the ice water from your glass and strain the drink into it.
Garnish with a lemon twist, expressing the citrus oils over the surface, or with 1 to 3 olives on a pick.

How to nail the texture: stir, don't shake, for a classic Martini. Stirring keeps the drink silky and crystal clear; shaking chills faster but bruises it with ice shards and air, leaving it cloudy. Shake only if you want it icy and slightly diluted. For a dirty Martini, add 0.5 oz olive brine before stirring, then garnish with olives.

Gin or vodka to dry vermouth ratios
Style	Spirit	Dry Vermouth	Ratio	Notes
50/50	1.5 oz	1.5 oz	1:1	Old-school, low ABV, vermouth-forward
Wet	2 oz	0.75 oz	~3:1	Softer and rounder
Classic dry	2.5 oz	0.5 oz	5:1	The modern standard
Extra dry	2.75 oz	0.25 oz	~11:1	Just a splash of vermouth
Bone dry	3 oz	rinse only	30:1+	Vermouth rinse, then discard
Dirty	2.5 oz	0.5 oz + 0.5 oz brine	5:1 + brine	Add olive brine; garnish with olives

Keep vermouth in the fridge after opening. It is a wine and oxidizes within weeks, dulling your Martini.
Chill the glass first. A warm glass is the fastest way to a flat, tepid drink.
For a bone-dry Martini, rinse the chilled glass with vermouth, discard it, then strain in the cold spirit.
Use a lemon twist for brightness or olives for a savory, saline edge. Swap in a cocktail onion and it becomes a Gibson.
Freeze the gin or vodka for extra chill without over-diluting the drink.

Gin or vodka, which is correct?

Both are classic. Gin gives the traditional botanical, herbal backbone; vodka is smoother and more neutral, letting the vermouth and garnish show. Use whichever you prefer.

What does 'dry' mean in a Martini?

Dry refers to less vermouth, not the type of spirit. A dry Martini uses about a 5:1 spirit-to-vermouth ratio; extra dry uses barely a rinse of vermouth.

Should I stir or shake?

Stir for a clear, silky classic Martini. Shake only if you want it colder, frostier, and slightly diluted. Shaking will make it look cloudy.

How do I make it dirty?

Add olive brine before stirring, about 0.25 oz for lightly dirty and 0.5 oz or more for extra dirty, then garnish with olives.

What glass should I use?

A chilled Martini (cocktail) glass or a coupe. The stem keeps your hand off the bowl so the drink stays cold.

Responsible drinking: a Martini is nearly all spirit, so it is stronger than it tastes and one is plenty. Sip slowly, keep water nearby, and never drink and drive. You must be of legal drinking age (21+ in the US).