Martinis are like women's breasts...

[dave1215]

...one is two few and three is too many.

How do you take your martini?

vodka?
gin?
other?

vermouth?
sweet stuff?
sake?

fruit?
vegetable?
nothing?

shaken?
stirred?
rocks?

special vessel?
special time?
special accompaniment?

What is your perfect martini?

[zetroc]

6:1 gin:dry vermouth, chilled, olive. stirred, usually. prefer st. george "terroir" gin, or hendricks, or else whatever they have that isn't in a plastic jug.

vodka isn't a martini.
sake isn't a martini.
onions make it a gibson.
etc.

[JoB]

I believe the quote is, "One is just right, two is too much, and three is never enough."

Not a Martini drinker but Ruhlman has got it pretty dialed. Martini | Michael Ruhlman

[Too Tall]

Love love love a classic martini. My version is Bombay Sapphire and any good dry vermouth:
1. Pour a dash of vermouth over chipped ice in the shaker add strainer and drain it out immediately.
2. Add two shots of gin. You don't want a huge drink it will just get warm...ick.
3. Cover and shake a few times than pour.
4. Three kick @ss no blemish olives.

[AJPM44]

A proper martini is gin, vermouth, dash of orange bitters, and either an olive or a lemon twist. The vermouth is typically dry, but can be both sweet and dry vermouth. It should always be stirred so that it is crystal clear. Don't let anyone tell you that shaking makes it colder, it doesn't.

[Too Tall]

A proper martini is gin, vermouth, dash of orange bitters, and either an olive or a lemon twist. The vermouth is typically dry, but can be both sweet and dry vermouth. It should always be stirred so that it is crystal clear. Don't let anyone tell you that shaking makes it colder, it doesn't.

OK, ok I do appreciate a clear martini. Not really sure why.

[Chance Legstrong]

i like'em like my women
ice cold
extra dirty
shaken
stuffed (olives)
vodka

[caleb]

Not a Martini drinker but Ruhlman has got it pretty dialed. Martini | Michael Ruhlman

Thank you. I had never thought of using a kitchen scale. Seems obvious though now that I see it done.

[WadePatton]

Love love love a classic martini. My version is Bombay Sapphire and any good dry vermouth:
1. Pour a dash of vermouth over chipped ice in the shaker add strainer and drain it out immediately.
2. Add two shots of gin. You don't want a huge drink it will just get warm...ick.
3. Cover and shake a few times than pour.
4. Three kick @ss no blemish olives.

can i get that delivered?

[oldguy00]

Do you guys put the vermouth bottle in the fridge after it has been opened the first time? How long will it last?

[Nate@Scarab]

Bourbon.

One day, someone needs to make me a good martini...'cause I've hated all the ones I've had thus far.

Suggestions?

[zetroc]

Don't skimp on the vermouth. The trend of "show the bottle of vermouth to the glass" is too little.

I do usually prefer Manhattans.

[maunahaole]

Bourbon.

One day, someone needs to make me a good martini...'cause I've hated all the ones I've had thus far.

Suggestions?

Don't drink martinis.

[AJPM44]

Do you guys put the vermouth bottle in the fridge after it has been opened the first time? How long will it last?

I always refrigerate vermouth. It is a wine, so if you aren't using it too frequently buy 350ml bottle instead of 750ml, that way it will be fresher. It should last a couple months in the fridge without affecting flavor too much.

[chasea]

Bourbon.

One day, someone needs to make me a good martini...'cause I've hated all the ones I've had thus far.

Suggestions?

I'm right there with you. But this one has kicked my ass on more than one ocassion. Pro tip: Just drink one. A martini glass is a ridiculous container for a liquid; and hard enough to handle sober. The second one will be all over the front of your shirt and pants.

The Waverly Inn: Absinthe-Minded Martini, Waverly Sazerac
16 Bank St., at Waverly Pl.; no (useful) phone
Graydon Carter's semiprivate club carries over absinthe's tradition as the spirit of choice for the artistically inclined: from Rimbaud and Toulouse-Lautrec to… Well, we're not sure who dines there; we don't have that kind of pull. But if you get in, your choice is between the Martini (absinthe, Martin Miller’s gin, fresh sour mix, an orange twist) and the Sazerac (Sazerac rye, absinthe, Peychaud’s bitters, dash of lemon). $15 each.


New York Magazine -- Absinthe Cocktails

[maunahaole]

Are you saying that absinthe has no asskick?

Not sure where you are going here... You really should be well into your second before the chill of the first goes out of your belly.

[JoB]

Yes - if you leave it at room temp after opening it, it will turn into something similar to Madeira.

Do you guys put the vermouth bottle in the fridge after it has been opened the first time? How long will it last?

[Jaq]

A proper martini is gin, vermouth, dash of orange bitters, and either an olive or a lemon twist. The vermouth is typically dry, but can be both sweet and dry vermouth. It should always be stirred so that it is crystal clear. Don't let anyone tell you that shaking makes it colder, it doesn't.

Shaking a martini also causes the ice to chip and melt in the presence of warmer alcohol, thus watering down the drink.

My favorite 'tini isn't really a 'tini at all; just a martini glass of liquid-helium temperature Stoli. And maybe an olive.

[RIHans]

A good pal put forward this regarding two vs more...

One in the middle of a woman's back for slow dancing would be cool,,,

[hidayanra]

One day, someone needs to make me a good martini...'cause I've hated all the ones I've had thus far.

Suggestions?

I don't know where you are traveling for work at the moment - but here's the trick -
Find a *great* bartender (the rest are a waste where martinis are concerned), go in on a Wednesday/Thursday evening and tell the bartender what tastes you like - (s)he should take it from there. I have yet to live a city where there wasn't at least one great bartender. Wednesday & Thursday evenings are when the really good stuff gets made, there isn't a crowd or such a rush. Get there earlier in the evening... 8 or 9p?

My taste runs to very simple vodka martinis, a touch of vermouth (but not this "light misting of vermouth" that is going around), and two twists of lime peel (better than lemon).
Gosh, now I'm regretting going dry. Even after being dry for most of the last 4 years, I still miss those.