Shaken……Not stirred!
On June 19th, shake up some gin and vermouth with ice and add a lemon twist. It’s National Martini Day!
This adult beverage has grown to become one of the best-known mixed drinks. A traditional or perfect Martini is made with equal parts gin and vermouth. For anyone who has never had a Martini, we have a list of terms to help get you started.
Martini Lingo
- Dirty – This Martini includes olive brine or juice from the olive jar.
- Dry – The vermouth is decreased significantly in the Martini, and gin becomes the primary spirit. Extra dry tips the ratio even further.
- Gibson – Instead of an olive, bartenders garnish the Martini with a pickled onion.
- Shaken vs. Stirred – Most bartenders will tell you that the better Martini is stirred. Shaken Martinis tend to be inferior due to a couple of reasons – ice chips water down the drink, and shaking the Martini adds air to the cocktail. A stirred Martini results in a smoother, fuller experience.
- Straight Up – This Martini may be either shaken or stirred, but it is strained and served without ice – the opposite of a Martini on the rocks.
- Smoky or Burnt – Scotch whisky replaces the vermouth in this Martini. A twist of lemon garnishes the glass.
- Wet – Where the dry Martini has less vermouth, this one has more.
- With a Twist – The bartender adds a thin strip of citrus peel to the Martini as a garnish or in the drink.
Shaken, stirred, on the rocks, that’s what you need to know to order traditional Martinis.
June 19 is National Martini Day!
Calamity Jane