HOW TO ORDER A MARTINI LIKE A BOSS
The days of tripping up over the dirty, up, shaken, stirred, dry or with a twist are over, because today we're teaching you how to order a martini…just like Bond.
Step 1: Choose your liquor.
For the love of all that is holy, know if you want a gin or vodka martini. Some bartenders won't ask you to specify, and as a result, they may guess wrong. As magical as they may seem, bartenders are not mind readers. And if they ask and you don't know – well, you don't deserve to drink a martini. Another tip, state the brand you prefer. This isn't 20 questions. Be upfront with what you want.
Step 2: Customize to taste.
This is where things can get tricky. Here are some options:
- Dirty: With olive juice or brine. Having your drink dirty brings a salty, olive-y, flavor and makes it a little cloudy looking. Good if you don't like the taste of alcohol.
- Dry: Drizzle of vermouth. Extra dry means even less vermouth, as in, a splash.
- Wet: More than a drizzle of vermouth.
- Sweet: Sweet vermouth instead of dry vermouth.
- Perfect: Equal parts sweet and dry vermouth for a balanced flavor.
- Neat: Alcohol poured straight from the bottle. No vermouth. No chilling. You don't mess around.
- With a twist: Lemon peel added as a garnish.
- With an olive (or two or three): This is exactly what it sounds like. Also, you know what sounds delicious but is gross? Blue cheese stuffed olives. Approach with caution.
Martini glasses are sexy. Rocks are practical. Which are you?
- Up: This brings your drink in the traditional martini glass that makes it impossible to walk across the room without spilling. The benefits are that your drink has been shaken or stirred with ice (Mr. Bond), but strained before pouring so the drink doesn't become diluted.
- On the rocks: Every last drop of your drink will arrive in a stemless glass with ice. Eventually, it will be watered-down if you don't drink it fast enough.
Step 4: Respect the martini.
Never drink four martinis. You'll probably even regret the third. Stick to two, at most.
For more on the martini, here is some suggested reading:
What does your martini say about you?
What's the deal with dirty (and extra dirty) martinis? (Seinfeld did not write what follows this link)
Is gin or vodka the correct spirit for a martini?
MARTINI RECIPES
The Dirt-y Martini
We've pulled inspiration right from our own garden to put a fresh twist on the classic Dirty Martini. When picking your pickles, think outside of the box. Go for hearty produce with unique flavors like the natural sweetness found in beets or the peppery snap of radish. Swapping out the olive brine for tangy homemade pickle juice brings a complex and earthy flavor to this simple cocktail.
Espresso Martini
The Espresso Martini is the perfect cocktail for a late night pick-me-up. The creaminess of the coffee liqueur balances the bitterness of the espresso for an all-around delicious drink.
Grasshopper
This cocktail, typically served up in a martini glass, is an adult-friendly mint chocolate surprise. Don't let the name bug you, it's only called Grasshopper for the green color. Next time, skip a decadent dessert and reach straight for this cocktail.
Dirty Martini
The Dirty Martini is a drink for olive lovers. This salty and briny martini made with gin or vodka is a classic cocktail lounge favorite. It can be served on the rocks or straight up in a chilled glass. The preferred olives are typically extra large Spanish olives stuffed with pimento.
