What is a Martini?
A Martini is a cocktail made with Gin or Vodka, mixed with a small amount of Dry Vermouth, garnished with olive(s) or a lemon twist. It is typically served “Up” (chilled, then poured without ice) in an iconic Martini Glass.
How to Order a Martini
There are an abundance of ways to prepare a Martini. To ensure you get the drink you want, you can specify the options you prefer from the categories below.
The first option in each category, in bold text in a green box, is most likely what a bartender will make if you don’t specify anything. Let’s look at what these all mean.
1. What Liquor
Specify brand
Specify brand
Optionally specify the brand of liquor, or “house” if you want cheap liquor.
2. Glassware and Ice
Chilled, without ice.
Comes in a tall Martini glass.
Served with ice.
Comes in a short Rocks glass.
Chilled, without ice.
Comes in a short Rocks glass.
Popular among high-ego patrons who don’t want to be seen as “girly”.
3. Style
Aside from Gin or Vodka, what else goes in the martini.
Made with a moderately small amount of Vermouth.
Very little to no Vermouth.
Vermouth was poured into the tin or the glass, then poured out before preparing/serving, so you only enjoy a hint of the aroma.
No Vermouth. Sometimes “Extra Dry” also means no Vermouth, but order this way to be extra sure. You could also just order “Vodka, Up” instead of a Martini.
Extra Vermouth.
With added Olive Brine. Sometimes the bartender will omit Vermouth in this case.
4. Preparation
Stirred with ice using a spoon. It’s fairly safe to assume your Martini will be made this way if you don’t specify otherwise.
Shaken with ice in tins. The liquid is heavily agitated and there may be bits of ice in your drink. More common for Vodka than Gin.
5. Garnish
An olive. Sometimes more than one if you ask nicely.
A bit of lemon peel, twisted into the drink to express its essence.
Putting it Together
Most of the variations above are optional. If you just order a “Martini,” the bartender will likely give you a Martini with house Gin, Up, Stirred, Dry, with an Olive. Or they may actually ask you to specify your preference on some or all of the categories above.
There might be some variation on the default Martini at a bar depending on their liquor program and the specific bartender. An order that would remove all ambiguity would be “Beefeater Martini, Up, Extra Dry, Stirred, with a Twist.” Looking at the defaults above, most bars would serve you the same thing if you ordered a “Beefeater Martini, Extra Dry, with a Twist,” with Up and Stirred implied.
For quick reference, see below.
Martini Quick Reference
Click each category below to see the options. Each of these is something you may optionally ask for in ordering a Martini. The first option in each list, in bold text and green background, is what you’re very likely to get if you don’t specify.