Martini Basics

Isaiah Martinez | Apr 22, 2011 |

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Martini Basics:

After Bartending for over five years in all different kinds of bars/restaurants I learned a thing or two about people and martinis. There are basically two categories of martinis: the “old school” martini(which I will cover in detail in another article) and the “new school” martini.

1.“Old School”

The old martini is not unlike the ones 007(James Bond) drinks, straight liquor, with little or nothing else mixed with ice and poored straight into the martini glass to be drank. There are many variations of the old style martini but most include 1-2 ounces hard, 80 proof or higher liquor with no more than an ounce another liquor to “cut” or dilute the main ingredient, and possibly an ounce or less of juice(usually olive or cherry) mixed as well but not usually. Again for more details on these martinis please view my other article.

A couple examples are:

Classic Gin Martini

1 ½ oz. Gin

½ oz. dry vermouth

Shake in martini shaker with ice for 30 seconds, pour.

Dry Martini

1 ½ oz Gin or Vodka

Coat glass with dry vermouth and discard extra vermouth

Shake in martini shaker with ice for 30 seconds, pour.

2.”New School”

The new martini has forgone the stripped down to the basics ingredients of the old, and re-written the rules on what can or cannot be called a martini. Before, to be a martini, it had to pack a punch and taste like it too! Nowadays, anything you can mix to about 4 oz, make it look good, and fit it into a martini glass you can call it a martini. Most of these still contain a base 80 proof liquor to work off of, but many contain mostly weaker liquors, 40 proof or less. This new wave of martinis usually will fit into the sweet, fruity, or dessert martini groups.

A couple examples are:

Wedding Cake Martini:

1 ½ oz vanilla vodka

1 oz pineapple juice

1 oz cranberry juice

1 oz simple syrup (1 part water/ 1 part sugar)

Shake in martini shaker with ice for 30 seconds, pour.

Pomegranite Martini:

1 ¼ oz vodka

¾ oz pama liqeur(this makes the drink and much easier to keep on hand, then pomegranate juice)

1 oz cranberry juice

1 oz simple syrup (1 part water/ 1 part sugar)

Shake in martini shaker with ice for 30 seconds, pour.

It could be said that the old martini was usually consumed by a refined or experienced drinker in much the same way as a scotch drinker. The old or classic martini is somewhat of an acquired taste. Any of the new martinis however, can be mixed to fit just about anyone’s drinking preference, most having only a hint of an alcohol taste to them. It has been my experience that women of all ages will be the make up the largest portion of those ordering the new type of martini. Usually older males are the ones who will order the old type of martini.