The Martini is the undisputed king of cocktails. This version takes the early twentieth-century ingredients – gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters – and brings them to more modern proportions. Dry vermouth is key to a proper Martini, so ignore all the hokum about waving the vermouth cap over the glass or using a spray atomizer and enjoy yours the way it was intended. This is a serious cocktail for serious drinking – it is, simply, all about the gin.
The best way to finish this drink is with a lemon twist, but we won’t begrudge you a few beautiful olives served on the side. Reach for a cocktail onion instead, and you’ve got yourself a Gibson.
The Martini
Makes 1 drink
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ½ ounces dry gin
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- Dash orange bitters (optional)
- Lemon twist or lives, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine the gin, vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass and place it in the freezer to chill, 10 minutes.
- Fill the mixing glass three-quarters full with ice cubes and stir rapidly to chill further, 30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the lemon twist, or serve olives alongside.
Notes:
Glass: Martini, Chilled
Ice: Cubed
From The 12 Bottle Bar by David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
The 12 Bottle Bar begins with one irresistible idea–a complete home bar of just 12 key bottles–and shows you how to make more than 200 classic and unique mixed drinks, including sours, slings, toddies, and highballs, plus the perfect Martini, the perfect Manhattan, and the perfect Mint Julep.
Authors David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson are the husband-and-wife publishers of the popular blog 12bottlebar.com. Follow their exploits as they develop new cocktail recipes.
Get a sneak peek at the book with the Cucumber Gimlet, a perfect drink for end-of-summer entertaining!
GET THE BOOK: Amazon | B&N | ebooks.com | Google Play | iBooks
