Martini Madness - How to Make a Pure Martini
To the purist, a martini is always about gin and never about vodka. A martini with vodka as its soul is referred to as a vodkatini. Moreover, even a martini made of gin but “tarnished” with flavors or even a different type of garnish is not considered a pure or traditional martini.
A traditional martini contains gin and dry vermouth. The gin is typically iced cold.
A martini is served in long-stemmed, cone shaped glasses.
A martini is said to be a plain, naked and honest drink. It is acceptable for a martini to be garnished with a lemon peel or a skewered olive on a pick.
When olive juice is added to the naked martini, it is said to be a dirty martini.
What Gin Brand is Preferred in a Martini?
London Dry Gin is the usual choice for mixing dry martinis.
Holland Gin is closest to the early Dutch formula and is most commonly served straight up or alone on ice. It is a full bodied, malt flavored and highly aromatic. Visit Gin Brands and Types to learn to expand your knowledge of gin.
What Vermouth Brands and Types are Preferred in a Martini?
Dry vermouth is preferred to accompany gin in a martini. Dry vermouth, also referred to as French vermouth, has a pale gold color and a touch of sugar. It is the transforming ingredient in a martini.
There are two other types of vermouth: sweet and half-sweet.
Sweet Vermouth, sometimes referred to as Italian vermouth, can be white (bianco) or red (rosso). It is three times as sweet as dry vermouth.
Half-sweet vermouth, also referred to as semi-sweet vermouth, is spicy and can also be white or red.
What Vodka Brands and Types are Preferred in a Martini?
If you are of the newer martini drinking class, you may still prefer your martini with vodka. Vermouth was instituted, as you now know, to cut the edge off of the gin. However, vermouth is not really needed in a vodka martini since vodka lacks as distinctive a taste as gin. Review our Vodka Brands and Types.
Meadow Lark Vodka Martini
Mike Sherwood of Santa Rosa Spirits writes The Muse that he's been experimenting with two infusions from Sub Rosa Spirits. Nothing radical and, that he says, is the point. He likes mixing Elderflower Liqueur with Tarragon Vodka. The Saffron and Cointreau seemed destined as partners, "very lush and warming", he says. Mike adds a hint of fine freshly ground black pepper into a plain Tarragon martini. Grinding in white pepper also works well. The martini is meant to be understated which brings out the delicate flavor of the tarragon.
Combine all ingredients into a martini glass over cold ice - check out Swank Martini Glasses for a nice selection of classic, cool and artsy martini glasses - and shake. The elderflowers bring imagery of a fresh summer meadow at sunrise. The Meadow Lark is Oregon's state bird.
The Marseille Airport Martini
The Marseille Airport Martini may require 1-2 ounces of ginger ale or a juice of your liking. The weekend bartender at Serattos make this one with a little soda water mixed in. Soda cut the sweetness of the orange liqueur but need to play with this one a little more. The Marseille Airport Martini has a pale yellow orange cast to if from the Saffron vodka and Cointreau. The aroma is warm and familiar yet not completely identifiable due to the toasted cumin wafting over the orange liqueur and fresh lime. Think Golden Cosmopolitan minus the juice.
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a long twist of lime.
Recommended Glassware
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