How to Make a Good Martini

[BlackDog]

I don't recall that I've ever had a martini before, and I'm interested in trying some. I know that the measurements of vermouth to gin are critical. Would some of you be good enough to recommend your brands of gin and vermouth, and the ratio you use? Olive, onion, or twist? Thanks!

[pnoon]

Here's a good thread for gins.
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=157

I like my martinis about 5 to 1 (~ 1/2 capful per generous 2 shots of gin). Shaken vigorously and strained into a martini glass with 2 olives.

Experiment with the vermouth. Some folks believe having the bottle in the same room is plenty. ;) I prefer a splash.

[The Poet]

Pour the vermouth into the pitcher, over rocks. Pour the vermouth OUT of the pitcher, leaving in the rocks. Add the gin/vodka, but make it a good one - no cheepo only fit for mixing. Shake/stir slightly, so not to bruise the martini - i.e., melt too much ice that waters down the cocktail. I prefer olives - at least two. Sip, don't chug. Repeat as required.

Stock dry vermouth is fine - don't waste money on better. Spend that on Tanqueray or better gin (Sapphire?), Absolut or better vodka (Gray Goose?)

[BigCat]

I like my martinis about 5 to 1 (~ 1/2 capful per generous 2 shots of gin). Shaken vigorously and strained into a martini glass with 2 olives.

Experiment with the vermouth. Some folks believe having the bottle in the same room is plenty. ;) I prefer a splash.

My thoughts exactly! Well, except for the olive part - I prefer a twist of lemon.

[mmblz]

Stock dry vermouth is fine - don't waste money on better. Spend that on Tanqueray or better gin (Sapphire?), Absolut or better vodka (Gray Goose?)

Stock vermouth CAN be fine - Martini & Rossi, the most common type, is. However, I've also been to stores that only have Gallo Vermouth - which has an entirely different flavor (much worse for a martini, IMHO).

Absolut, for a martini??? :pu

Gin: North Shore, Hendricks, Bombay Sapphire, Plymouth, Bulldog, Beefeater

Vodka (can hardly remember, I stopped drinking it a while back): Armadale, Youri Dolgorouki, Xellent, Turi, Belvedere

[qwerty1500]

Shaken ... it's an art ... you don't want melted water it it ... but get it COLD ... I often shake it, pour it and stick the martini in the freezer for a few minutes.

Two olives ... not flavored olives ... get the big ones

Don't be afraid of the vermouth (otherwise it's just cold gin) ... at least a splash if not a touch more ... this is very much a matter of personal taste. I second the Martini and Rossi vermouth ... the fresher the better. And, don't skimp on getting GOOD gin ... Bombay (regular ... don't care for the Sapphire for some reason) is my favorite ... maybe some Tanqueray 10.

Remember ... one is not enough ...

[pnoon]

Shaken ... it's an art ... you don't want melted water it it ... but get it COLD ... I often shake it, pour it and stick the martini in the freezer for a few minutes.

Two olives ... not flavored olives ... get the big ones

Don't be afraid of the vermouth (otherwise it's just cold gin) ... at least a splash if not a touch more ... this is very much a matter of personal taste. I second the Martini and Rossi vermouth ... the fresher the better. And, don't skimp on getting GOOD gin ... Bombay (regular ... don't care for the Sapphire for some reason) is my favorite ... maybe some Tanqueray 10.

Remember ... one is not enough ...
Two is too many.
Three is just right. :)

[HawkEye19]

I saw a recipe one time where is was a half shot of dry and a half shot of sweet vermouth. Pour into your shaker, shake and pour vermouth out. Then add gin (*shudder* vodka). Makes a right tasty martini.

[goalie204]

I use vodka in my martinis, not gin. I shake the vodka with lots of CRUSHED ice, and I don't put olive juice, and a use a squirt bottle to spritz a TINY amount of vermouth onto the glass, then i pour the shaken vodka into the glass, and squeeze a tiny amount of lemon peel in it. MMMMM vodka.

[pnoon]

I use vodka in my martinis, not gin. I shake the vodka with lots of CRUSHED ice, and I don't put olive juice, and a use a squirt bottle to spritz a TINY amount of vermouth onto the glass, then i pour the shaken vodka into the glass, and squeeze a tiny amount of lemon peel in it. MMMMM vodka.

Sounds good. But it ain't no martini. :)

[TheTraveler]

I saw a recipe one time where is was a half shot of dry and a half shot of sweet vermouth. Pour into your shaker, shake and pour vermouth out. Then add gin (*shudder* vodka). Makes a right tasty martini.

I actually like a martini with this mix of vermouths ... but leave the vermouth in. It ends up being 1 oz vermouth to 2 oz gin. Pretty nice.

I tried an "old school" martini - equal parts vermouth and gin - but that was a bit too much vermouth for my taste. Give that a try though, you might like it.

[adampc22]

Sounds good. But it ain't no martini. :)

james bond drinks vodka martinis lol

[goalie204]

Sounds good. But it ain't no martini. :)

a vodka martini, is still a martini. It's just one made with vodka.

A cuban cigar is still a cigar. It's just one made with cuban tobacco, in cuba. etc

[adampc22]

a vodka martini, is still a martini. It's just one made with vodka.

A cuban cigar is still a cigar. It's just one made with cuban tobacco, in cuba. etc

right on

[pnoon]

a vodka martini, is still a martini. It's just one made with vodka.

A cuban cigar is still a cigar. It's just one made with cuban tobacco, in cuba. etc
:r
keep tellin yourself that.

I guess if I chill lemonade and pour it in a martini glass, I can call it a lemonade martini.

[smokin5]

a vodka martini, is still a martini. It's just one made with vodka.


Nonsense!!!
An analogy, if you please:
If you mix gin, vermouth & an olive, its called a Martini.
If you mix gin, vermouth & an onion, its called a Gibson.

Now, I ask you, if merely changing the garnish of this concoction changes the name of the drink, how in the H3LL can you change the main ingredient and call it the same thing?!! Answer: You can't.

A mix of vodka, vermouth & an olive (or twist of lemon, if you prefer) is NOT called a Martini, it is called a Kangaroo. Now stop calling a daffodil a rose.

Thank you.:)

[smokin5]

Oh, nearly forgot!!

My idea of a great Martini calls for a 3:1 mix of gin to dry vermouth, 2 drops of Angostura bitters, & 2 large olives. Preferred gin is Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire. Preferred vermouth is Martini & Rossi, but I'm not picky.
STIR the mix with ice (shaking just dilutes it). If you've never tried the bitters, I highly recommend it. If you want to mix the vermouth 1/2 dry & 1/2 sweet, that works, too. But don't just give me a 'breath' of vermouth. That's just cold gin.

[goalie204]

:r
keep tellin yourself that.

I guess if I chill lemonade and pour it in a martini glass, I can call it a lemonade martini.

They have all those already. "apple martini, crantini, lychee martini, chocotini" - whether they're blasphemous or not...really? who gives a sh1t, people drink what they enjoy, does it truly matter what they want to label something? Not in the least.

vodka martini is classic like it's gin counterpart, and is in most cocktail books.
http://www.drinkoftheweek.com/special/martini.htm
http://cocktails.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_a_vodka_martini

That's all from me, as I don't really care about the semantics anymore :)

[dandaman]

ARID I prefer in & out w/vermouth & of course tanqueray." SALUTE " I agree Pete, vodka's is not a martini.

[GWN]

+1 for vodka martinis (or whatever you wanna call 'em).
I also dig jalepeno-stuffed olives in mine, five of em, but I'm usually pretty hungry after work.:D

[dandaman]

ARRID I prefer in & out w/vermouth & of course tanqueray." SALUTE " I agree Pete, vodka's is not a martini.:tu

[GreekGodX]

james bond drinks vodka martinis lol

If you go to the novels which IMO is the right way to experience Bond. He drinks the Vesper Martini.

3 parts Gin
1 Part Vodka
Small Amount Kinet Lilet (a bitter dry Vermouth) Less vermouth makes it more dry.

This happens to be my favorite way to make a Martini. I don't like having olives or lemon peel, and I'm not very particular on the vermouth. It has to be Tanqueray and Grey Goose.

[Whee]

First of all, if it isn;t made with gin, it ain;t a martini!:fu

Bombay Sapphire is a good martini gin, Tanqueray works too, I like it for my G&T's though. Must have an odd number of olives, stiffed blue cheese olives rock!

[goalie204]

wrong

[DougBushBC]

Experiment with the vermouth. Some folks believe having the bottle in the same room is plenty. ;) I prefer a splash.

I believe it was Winston Churchill who said "The perfect Martini is drinking a glass of cold Gin while staring at a bottle of Vermouth."


As for my Martini (I drink them rarely) but I like to put a splash of Dry Vermouth in the glass, turn it to coat the surface, and then pour the remainder out, then Shake a good gin (I prefer Plymoth, which is a different style of gin, very floral) with ice and pour in the glass, then garnish with a lemon peel (olives don't do it for me).

An Alternative is a drink that I love called a Negroni, shake together equal parts Plymoth Gin, Sweet Vermouth, and Campari, pour in glass. Flame a twist of orange over the top, drop the peel in. Itls delicious.

[The Poet]

Don't care what you wanna call it, I choose vodka. If I want the gin experience, I'll just chew on some pine needles first.

[nozero]

Beefeater or Bombay gin from the freezer, 2-3 large olives and about 4 drops of vermouth is my preference.

[bigloo]

Dirty Martini.

3 Parts Gin (I use local Oregon Gins, 12 bridges is exceptional and better then anything commerical IMHO as is Aviation).
1 Part M&R Vermouth
Splash of olive juice (mayeb 1/4 to 1/2 part).
Quick shake, 3 or 5 olives (always odd).

Same with my Gibsons, substitute the word olive above for pickled onions. A GREAT Gibson is using those Italian "capa-something" onions which have a dash of balsomic in them. Dam, I need a 'tini!

[icehog3]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/icehog3/martini_zps71cd7962.png (http://s196.photobucket.com/user/icehog3/media/martini_zps71cd7962.png.html)

[Scottw]

That's awesome Tom!

[pnoon]

:tg

[smokin5]

Now THAT made me laugh out loud!
Good one, Icehog.:D

Back on track, though, I've come up with an efficient way of
chilling martinis without getting into the whole "stirred vs. shaken"
controversy (:2- Stir it, don't shake it).
I've filled a 1.75 liter bottle with my pre-mix of martini
(3 oz gin to 1 oz dry vermouth, 2 drops bitters per serving, multiply
by 14), and keep it in the freezer. Then, when a guest or I want a
martini, I just take the bottle from the freezer, shake & pour. Ta-da!

[galaga]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/icehog3/martini_zps71cd7962.png (http://s196.photobucket.com/user/icehog3/media/martini_zps71cd7962.png.html)

Nothing wrong with good whiskey Tommy :tu

All I can say is

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida

Vanderbilt
Commodores
(5-4)

34


Florida
Gators
(4-5)

17

[pnoon]

:=:

[galaga]

BTW

Whatever ratio of gin to vermouth you use. Put them in the shaker and let them sit for a time so they get cold. Condensation on the shaker is about the right length of time. Put ice in your glass so it gets cold. Shake the S.H.I.T. out of the shaker, enough to splinter the ice and then pour the contents into your emptied, cold glass. Hold the glass up to the setting sun so that the ice splinters are melted by the sunlight, thereby capturing the sunlight in the glass. Drink before the temperature of the martini gets too warm and the sunlight escapes. This ritual is optional for subsequent martinis, in case of emergencies and in Arizona. YMMV. :tu

[pnoon]

BTW

Whatever ratio of gin to vermouth you use. Put them in the shaker and let them sit for a time so they get cold. Condensation on the shaker is about the right length of time. Put ice in your glass so it gets cold. Shake the S.H.I.T. out of the shaker, enough to splinter the ice and then pour the contents into your emptied, cold glass. Hold the glass up to the setting sun so that the ice splinters are melted by the sunlight, thereby capturing the sunlight in the glass. Drink before the temperature of the martini gets too warm and the sunlight escapes. This ritual is optional for subsequent martinis, in case of emergencies and in Arizona. YMMV. :tu

I like the way you think, Slappy. :al

[smokin5]

Wait...wait...but do you stand on your left foot or
someone else's while you shake?
And how much thrust of the hips while you do it?

[icehog3]

Nothing wrong with good whiskey Tommy :tu

All I can say is

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida

Vanderbilt
Commodores
(5-4)

34


Florida
Gators
(4-5)

17

Yeah, we suck this year, Rick. Now my only hope for a happy ending is for Alabama to humiliate the Semiholes in the BCS game. :)

:=:

Stay out of this, Buzzy, this is mine and Rick's thing. You and me can discuss Denver dismantling the Churgers if you like. Oh, yeah, and gin ranks right up there with IPAs...disgusting. :fu2: :lr

[pnoon]

Stay out of this, Buzzy, this is mine and Rick's thing. You and me can discuss Denver dismantling the Churgers if you like. Oh, yeah, and gin ranks right up there with IPAs...disgusting. :fu2: :lr

San Diego Chokers are embarrassing.

Thank goodness for gin and IPAs

[icehog3]

San Diego Chokers are embarrassing.

Thank goodness for gin and IPAs

Yet I don't slap my knee at you.-(P

And IPAs are awesome if you like sucking pinecones. :pu

Don't even get me started on gin. :lr

[pnoon]

Yet I don't slap my knee at you.-(P

And IPAs are awesome if you like sucking pinecones. :pu

Don't even get me started on gin. :lr

I was slapping my knee at Slappy.

[galaga]

Yeah, we suck this year, Rick. Now my only hope for a happy ending is for Alabama to humiliate the Semiholes in the BCS game. :)



Gonna be yelling at the TV for that game :banger

I take it you wouldn't like the taste of Retsina then?


Wait...wait...but do you stand on your left foot or
someone else's while you shake?
And how much thrust of the hips while you do it?

Are you talking about making a martini or OGC?





(Old Guy Coitus)

[replicant_argent]

Yeah, my only hope for a happy ending is for .. gin.

We don't want to know about your particular "happy endings." TMI, bud. :r

[icehog3]

We don't want to know about your particular "happy endings." TMI, bud. :r

Apparently the restraining order did not reach your lawyer yet, Pete. Ah, yes...it's a holiday.

[icehog3]

I take it you wouldn't like the taste of Retsina then?





Made with pine resin? Geez, must taste like a Greek IPA. :pu :lr

[CigarNut]

I like just a little vermouth. I put ice in my shaker, pour in about 1/4 shot of vermouth, swirl it a bit so that some of the vermouth coats the ice and then pour the vermouth out.

Then I add my gin and give it all a good shake.

I like a variety of different gins, however there is a one local one (the name escapes me at the moment as I suffer from CRS) that has a lot of Juniper in it and I tend to use that one the most.

[pnoon]

I like just a little vermouth. I put ice in my shaker, pour in about 1/4 shot of vermouth, swirl it a bit so that some of the vermouth coats the ice and then pour the vermouth out.

Then I add my gin and give it all a good shake.

I like a variety of different gins, however there is a one local one (the name escapes me at the moment as I suffer from CRS) that has a lot of Juniper in it and I tend to use that one the most.

Aviation, maybe?

[icehog3]

Aviation, maybe?

Or Pine Sol? :D

[AdamJoshua]

There is nothing about a martini that I like, not into gin, vermouth or olives, I do kind of like that the name sounds a bit like Martian or Dean Martin for that matter... but that's about it.

[CigarNut]

There is nothing about a martini that I like, not into gin, vermouth or olives, I do kind of like that the name sounds a bit like Martian or Dean Martin for that matter... but that's about it.

So why post? :sh

[pnoon]

So why post? :sh

So why respond? :sh

[icehog3]

Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near?

[T.G]

Maybe they like the smell of pine needles from the gin.

[pektel]

Gin ain't terrible. Never tried a purist martini. I just mix belvedere, a splash of olive juice, and garnish with a garlic-stuffed olive.

I like gin and tonics, so maybe I should give it a shot. I just can't stand the taste of vermouth.

As far as piney tasting IPA's, I'd have to agree with Tom. I really only like citrus-y hops like Centennial. I'm more of a stout drinker myself though.

[icehog3]

Sounds like we are on the same page with beer and martinis, Peter. :tu

[CigarNut]

Not much of an IPA fan myself, but I do love me some stout :D

[replicant_argent]

Apparently the restraining order did not reach your lawyer yet, Pete. Ah, yes...it's a holiday.

I would always lend you a hand, however distasteful it might be, ADB.


The circumstances would have to be pretty dire, though. Just sayin'.

[icehog3]

I would always lend you a hand, however distasteful it might be, ADB.


The circumstances would have to be pretty dire, though. Just sayin'.

So long as you wear a purse hat, Pete, I am in.

[SvilleKid]

All you haters!!! :noon Remember the "Grapenuts" commercials of the 1970's with Euell Gibbons..... "Many parts of a pine tree are edible!" :):banger

That aside, I must be strange (but most of you know that already!). I love a good martini. Prefer mine "dirty", and with the vermouth poured in, then back out, then add the rest of the ingredients. Since I make mine "dirty" with the olive juice, I have no real preference on the olive as a garnish. Hard to beat Amsterdam brand for taste and price, IMO. But will always take one with Tang or Sapphire. And love gin and tonic. But in spite of that love, I cannot stand IPA's!! A waste of good water and yeast!

But I have also been known to eat a pine tree or two!!;)

[icehog3]

All you haters!!! :noon Remember the "Grapenuts" commercials of the 1970's with Euell Gibbons..... "Many parts of a pine tree are edible!" :):banger



"Edible" does not necessarily equal "tastes good", Cliff. ;)

[smokin5]

That's quite true, Icehog
I once heard pnoon say he thought you'd be edible. In a pinch. :ss

[icehog3]

That's quite true, Icehog
I once heard pnoon say he thought you'd be edible. In a pinch. :ss

Oh, it's true. But I'm delicious. ;)

[replicant_argent]

That's quite true, Icehog
I once heard pnoon say he thought you'd be edible. In a pinch. :ss
My guess is stringy as hell and chewy. You would need a huge stew pot and a day or so.

[icehog3]

My guess is stringy as hell and chewy. You would need a huge stew pot and a day or so.

Put me in a blender with some vodka and a slice of pie. It will make all your dreams come true.

[smokin5]

That would be a slice of mincemeat pie, I'm guessin?

What, no olives or vermouth?

[qwerty1500]

Some say that martinis are an acquired taste. Well, I seem to have acquired it from my very first sip in the martini bar at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis years ago. And yes, it DOES need to be gin ... a good London Dry please ... and don't spare the vermouth. Now, for the ultimate gasp ... I can't think of anything that pairs better with a good cigar ... not whiskey, not scotch, not beer.

Jet fuel, pine trees, whatever ... I've heard them all. My problem with martinis ... other than the one my liver doctor might mention ... is I wish I could drink more than two without wanting to take a nap.

[Felixcigar]

I'm no expert, but I've been told that Beefeater combined with a dry vermouth measured in drops, not shot glasses, makes the best martini.

[icehog3]

Beefeater vodka?

[Felixcigar]

The Vodka Martini: the only thing James Bond ever got wrong.

[icehog3]

The Vodka Martini: the only thing James Bond ever got wrong.

James Bond was NEVER wrong.

[Felixcigar]

I know, hard to believe I even typed that.

[ironchefscott]

I think Bond got this one wrong.......

[icehog3]

I think Bond got this one wrong.......

Refer to Post #70.

Thank you.