The origins of the Martini are shrouded in mystery; everyone wants a piece of her. Described by author H.L. Mencken as 'the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet', the Martini is so strong and sexy, simply ordering one is enough to make us weak at the knees.
So, how do you order a Martini? Forget James Bond (unless you really do like it shaken, not stirred) you need to find the Martini that fits you.
A perfect martini
We prefer ours with gin and we use a 2:1 ratio (2 parts gin to 1 part dry vermouth) and this is what most good bars will fall back to.
Simply request a "Classic gin Martini" . You'll likely be asked what gin you would prefer and we suggest you choose wisely - most of a Martini is gin, so it might as well be a good one.
A dry martini:
This refers to the amount of vermouth in your Martini. The less vermouth, the drier it is. Ordering a martini "extra dry" will result in even less or no vermouth added. By the Roaring Twenties, it became a common drink order.
A wet martini
Ordering a Wet Martini signifies a Martini that's a little sweeter than the average. The more vermouth you add, the 'wetter' your Martini is.
A dirty martini
The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of cocktail olives, has been added to the drink. At The Everleigh, we use the terms dusty, dirty and filthy to describe the varying levels of olive brine desired.
Dusty: 7ml of olive brine
Dirty: 15ml of olive brine
Filthy: 22ml of olive brine.
Garnishes
The most common garnishes for a Martini are a lemon twist or one or more olives.
For a cleaner and brighter flavour, the lemon twist is your best option. If something more savoury is your preference then choose an olive.
If you want something a little different, garnish with a cocktail onion. This is also known as a Gibson martini.
Now you know how to order a Martini, how are you having yours?