Whether you like it shaken or stirred (always stirred) or prefer it dry over dirty there are many cocktails that are accepted as Martini’s. This Thursday 19th June is World Martini Day so we’ve made a list of five martinis every bartender should know how to make and you should be drinking!
1. The Gibson
The Gibson is not really anything more than a gin martini garnished with a cocktail onion. Instead of a briny, earth flavour you get a really light and fresh onion twist to your martini.
45ml of gin
15ml of dry vermouth
1 or 2 cocktail onions for garnish
2. Manhattan
The Manhattan is one of the oldest and finest cocktails ever made and the first cocktail to use vermouth as a modifier. Just like a classic martini there are a few variations to a Manhattan – normal, perfect or dry. A Dash of dry vermouth instead of sweet makes for a dry Manhattan and a perfect Manhattan uses equal parts dry and sweet vermouth.
45ml of rye whiskey
15ml of sweet vermouth
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
Maraschino cherry for garnish
3. Rob Roy
The Rob Roy is the Scotch whisky version of a Manhattan, it is named after the Scottish Robin Hood of the 18th century Robert Roy MacGregor. Like the Martini and Manhattan, the Rob Roy can also be made dry or perfect.
45ml of Scotch Whisky
15ml of sweet vermouth
1 dash of Angostura Bitters
Maraschino cherry for garnish
The Sidecar
The Sidecar was reportedly created in Paris during WWI and is made with cognac but has varied over time to use bourbon as well. While every bartender will argue a martini should always be stirred, when citrus is involved the cocktail should be shaken. A good bartender will also add a sugar rim to the martini glass.
45ml Cognac or Armagnac (we prefer to keep it original)
15ml of Cointreau
10ml of lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish and a lovely sugar rim for added touch
French Martini
As a bartender I feel a little repentant for adding this one to the list but every girl will order a French Martini at some point in their life. French Martini replaces vermouth with Chambord – a dark raspberry liqueur and adds a dash of pineapple juice which creates a frothy layer on top when served.
45ml of vodka
15ml of Chambord
20 ml of pineapple juice
lemon peel for garnish
Fun Facts About the Martini…
- The name martini is said to come from the city of Martinez, California where the first martini is documented as being made between 1862 and 1876.
- The first official mention of the word martini appears in the New and Improved Illustrated Bartending Manual in 1888.
- The stem on a martini glass was designed so that your hand doesn’t come into contact with the bowl holding the martini.
- The martini first gained popularity during the Prohibition era.
- A classic martini is stirred so as not to bruise the gin.
- A shaken martini will have a different flavour than a stirred martini.