If you are a martini drinker, you know exactly what you want; dry, dirty, up, with a twist, there are so many different ways to order a martini. For the people who do not know how to customize their drink, today is National Martini Day, so I want to teach you! Below, as well as what the different descriptions mean, at the bottom of the article are a few fun, fruity, and summery, martinis. The great part about a martini is that they are easy to make and often include minimal ingredients, so stay tuned at the bottom!
The Liquor:
Martinis come with gin or vodka, it is best to specify what you want by either saying “Vodka Martini” or by telling the bartender what brand you want. Remember, this is what makes up the majority of the drink, so if you know which brand you like best then you are more likely to enjoy your drink.
The Glass:
Believe it or not, the glass really does make a difference. Most people get their martini Up. This means that it is up in a traditional martini glass, elevated. The pros of this glass are that your drink was shaken with ice, giving it a nice chill, but not watering down the drink. The big pro is if you are walking around with a martini glass, you are likely to spill the drink before you have a chance to enjoy it!
Your other option is to get the martini on the rocks. On the rocks will put your drink over ice in a glass, the only con is that if you don’t drink it fast enough, the ice will water down the drink.
The Terms:
Dirty: Dirty has to do with the olive juice in the drink. The dirtier you want the drink, the more olive juice or salty-ness brought to the drink; hence, extra dirty. Drinking a dirty martini is the best way to drink it if you don’t like the taste of alcohol as much.
Dry: A dry martini has a little bit of vermouth in it, extra dry means you want even less vermouth. The vermouth gives it a bit of a briny or bitter taste.
Wet: Wet martinis have more vermouth than just a splash or drizzle like in the dry or extra dry versions.
Sweet: Sweet vermouth is used instead of dry vermouth when you order a sweet martini. This gives the drink a bit more flavor and a lower alcohol content.
Perfect: A perfect martini means it has equal parts of sweet vermouth and dry vermouth. Traditionally, this is how martinis were made, but as time went on and styles have changed, the dirty or dry martini are more popular.
Neat: Some don’t believe that this is a true martini, but you are free to do whatever you would like. A Neat martini is simply your gin or vodka poured straight from the bottle, there is no chilling, vermouth, or olive juice.
The Garnish:
With a twist: When you order your martini with a twist, the bartender twists the rind of a lemon over the martini as a finishing touch in the glass. This gives off the citrus scent over the top of the glass as well as releases the oils from the fruit. This gives a citrus finish to the drink, a bit different flavor than with the olives.
With an olive (or two): The more popular option is to garnish with a few olives. This gives an additional olive taste, to add to the olive juice already in the drink. Traditionally, you eat one olive to start the drink and one olive at the very end. The first olive sets up your palate for the drink and the last olive ends the drink after soaking up the vodka or gin and vermouth.
Starburst Martini – Combine ingredients in shaker tin, shake and pour, garnish with raspberries
- 1 oz Pinnacle Whipped Vodka
- 3 oz Raspberry Lemonade
- 4 oz Sprite or Fresca
Bikini Martini – Combine ingredients in shaker tin, shake until the drink becomes frothy, pour and enjoy
- 1 oz Coconut Rum
- ¾ oz Vodka
- 1 oz Pineapple Juice
- 1 dash Grenadine (Optional)
Grapefruit Rose Elderflower Martini – Combine vodka and elderflower liqueur in a shaker tin, shake vigorously and pour. Top with champagne to taste
- 3 oz Ketel One Grapefruit and Rose Vodka
- 1 oz Elderflower Liqueur
- Campagne
April Rain – Combine ingredients in shaker tin, shake and pour, garnish with a lime peel, try a lime twist!
- 2 oz Vodka
- ½ oz Lime Juice
- ½ oz Dry Vermouth
