A classic dry martini is made with gin, dry vermouth, and olives or a lemon twist for garnish. It's one of the most well-known cocktails and remains popular more than 100 years after its creation.
To a mixing glass filled with ice, add gin and vermouth. Using a bar spoon, stir until mixture is fully combined and well chilled, about 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with olives or a lemon twist.
Notes
Gin: A distilled spirit flavored with juniper berries and, occasionally, other botanical herbs or spices.
Dry vermouth: A fortified wine (made from grapes) that is often pale and always bitter compared to red, sweet vermouth.
Yield: This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
Glassware: Martinis are traditionally made in a cocktail glass, also known as a martini glass.
Big batch: Martinis are best prepared individually.
Extra dry: Made with almost no dry vermouth at all.
Dirty martini: Add a splash of olive brine to the mixing glass with the gin and garnish with an olive.
Wet martini: Use equal amounts of gin and dry vermouth.
Perfect martini: Use equal parts of dry and sweet vermouth.
Vodka martini: Substitute vodka for the gin.
Gibson cocktail: Garnish with cocktail onions instead of olives or a lemon twist.
Vesper martini: Increase the vermouth to 1 ounce, add 1/2 ounce Lillet blanc with the 3 ounces of gin, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Churchill martini: Omit the dry vermouth entirely and "should be prepared with gin straight from the freezer while glancing at a closed bottle of dry vermouth."