Stirred not shaken: the right way to make a vodka martini

Your taste buds will show you that James Bond doesn't always have it right

Carolyn Yates | Published: 10/20/09

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The preferred drink of the Mad Men era, Ernest Hemingway, James Bond, and business lunches, the martini has an undeniable place in the cultural imagination. A classic martini is made with two ounces of gin and half an ounce of dry vermouth, stirred in a cocktail shaker, strained, and served with an olive or twist of lemon peel. Shaking a martini can dull the taste of the vermouth, but the prevalence of "shaken not stirred" means that proper preparation in a bar is a toss-up.
The vodka martini is one of the most common twists on the classic martini, and is made with vermouth and vodka instead of gin. One of its more high-end variations is the Grey Goose martini, which is made with three parts Grey Goose vodka, a quarter-part dry vermouth, two dashes of orange bitters, and three olives. Ordering one in a bar will cost around $16.50 before the tip. For most of the class and less of the cash, try the following:

Ingredients

3 parts vodka

¼ part dry vermouth

1 olive

Directions

Pour vodka and vermouth into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker. Strain into a standard cocktail glass, add an olive, and serve straight up (no ice).

Notes

Olives, lemon twists, pickled onions, bay leaves, capers, and dill spears are all acceptable garnishes.

All ingredients must be stored at room temperature to increase the subtlety of their flavours.

Regular glasses, mugs, or coffee thermoses are all acceptable substitutes for a real cocktail shaker. Use a sieve or fork to strain.

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