Having a drink should always be something you do purely for enjoyment but ordering a “Long Island Ice Tea” at an after-hours business meeting might not be the right move when your counterparts are ordering their Top Shelf Manhattans. I’ve put together a guide for ordering the “OG” of classy drinks…The Martini.
A true, Classic Martini is made with gin but now, more often than not, when someone orders a martini they’re referring to a vodka martini…Always be specific when you’re ordering a martini, A) So you get exactly what you want, B) So the bartender isn’t forced to bombard you with a series of questions (i.e. Straight up? On the Rocks? Shaken? Stirred? Dry? Dirty?)
The First Steps to Ordering…
Name your alcohol: be it vodka or gin, name the brand (Grey Goose, Kettle One, Hendricks, Nolet’s) or the type (Well, Top Shelf…and Lord help you if you’re ordering a well martini)
Tell the bartender how you want it: “up” or “on the rocks,” a martini should be “up” but everyone has their personal preference. If you order it “up” do you want it shaken or stirred?
Tell the bartender what kind of martini you want, & here is where it gets confusing…
A True Martini is:
- 5 Parts gin (a true martini is never vodka)
- 1 Part dry vermouth
- (Optional) Dash of orange bitters
A “Dry Martini” is:
- 5 Parts gin (or vodka)
- >1 Part dry vermouth
- (Optional) Dash of orange bitters
A “VERY/Extra Dry Martini” is:
- 5 Parts gin (or vodka)
- A “swirl” of dry vermouth (just enough to coat the martini glass, dump out the excess) or no vermouth at all depending on the bartender.
An “Extra, Extra Dry Martini” is:
The same as a Very/Extra Dry Martini but it is guaranteed you will not have any dry vermouth vs. having a swirl of dry vermouth.
A “Dirty Martini” is:
- 5 parts vodka
- 1 part dry vermouth
- 1 part olive brine (olive juice)
A “Wet Martini,” is:
The same as a True Martini but with more than half an ounce or swirl of dry vermouth
XOXO-MaiaElizabeth
this was a useful post