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Recipe · Medium

Dry Martini

The cocktail that defined dry vermouth: gin and a whisper of extra dry white vermouth, served ice cold.

Glass
Cocktail glass (Martini or Nick & Nora)
Yield
1 cocktail

Ingredients

  • 60 ml London Dry gin
  • 10–15 ml Extra dry white vermouth
  • 1 twist Lemon or green olive (garnish)

Method

  1. Chill the cocktail glass with ice or in the freezer.
  2. Combine gin and vermouth in a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
  3. Stir for 30–40 seconds until very cold.
  4. Strain into the chilled glass and garnish with lemon twist or olive.

Tips

  • Common ratios: 5:1 or 6:1 gin-to-vermouth for a very dry Martini; 3:1 if you want more herbal presence.
  • Use well-chilled extra dry vermouth; with premium bottles you can be more generous without losing dryness.

Frequently asked questions

Shaken or stirred Dry Martini?

Bar tradition: stirred for a silky texture. Shaking adds dilution and a slightly different profile; both are valid.

Lemon or olive?

Lemon twist for a more citrusy, aromatic Martini; green olive (Gibson style) for a saltier, drier profile.

How much vermouth in a dry Martini?

From a rinse to 15–20 ml per 60 ml gin. With quality extra dry vermouth, 10–15 ml is a good starting point.