If we were to compare all the cocktails from around the world to animals, this would be a different sort of blog (perhaps for another day). The Martini however, would be somewhat akin to a chameleon, for it can tweak tiny bits of itself to change for any occasion and drinker. These many variations of the Martini deserve some acknowledgement, which is exactly what this article is about to do for the National Martini Day. Here are some great twists on the Classic Martini that you may not have tried and should give a shot!
7 Martini Variations To Try Out
- Vodka Martini
- Vesper
- 50/50 Martini
- Reverse Martini
- Martinez
- Perfect Martini
- Turf Club
1. Vodka Martini
Oh we can already hear the teeth grinding, the collars shuffling, and the glasses sliding up the noses as the cocktail purists get ready with their actually-s. We’ll save you all the breath. This is a Vodka Martini, a VARIATION of the Classic Martini, made using vodka as the base spirit instead of gin.
If we were to use gin, it wouldn’t be a VODKA Martini or a VARIATION now, would it? So mix yourself a glass, take a deep breath and chill out a little, will ya? We can almost feel the heavy breaths down our necks!
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz. of vodka
- 0.5 oz. of dry vermouth
- 1 dash of orange bitters
- Lemon twist or olive to garnish
How To Make Vodka Martini
- Stir the vodka, dry vermouth, and orange bitters in a mixing glass with ice for 20 to 30 seconds, or until well chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with an olive, lemon twist, or both.
2. Vesper
You didn’t think the suave agent and his drink of choice would be forgotten when compiling a list of Martini variations now, did you? Not only is this drink made famous due to the Bond franchise, it is also unique in the sense that it was created by a writer and no small fry at that! The great Ian Fleming sure is a brilliant penman, but The Vesper makes us believe he might thrive behind a bar too!
The Vesper completely does away with the vermouth from the recipe and replaces it with vodka, making it a hard hitter. So if you’re about to have an appointment with the Vesper, you might just want to tweak the Two Martini rule and make it the One Vesper rule!
Ingredients
- 3 oz. of gin
- 1 oz. of vodka
- 0.5 oz. of aperitif
- Lemon twist for garnish
How To Make Vesper
- Add the gin, vodka, aperitif, and ice into a shaker.
- Shake well for 20-30 seconds, or until ice cold.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Rub a lemon twist along the rim of the glass and drop it in the glass after expressing its oils over the drink.
Also Read: Cocktails With Weird Names That You Should Try
3. 50/50 Martini
Thanos walks into a bar, and orders a 50/50 Martini. Can you guess why?
He said it’s because the drink is “Perfectly balanced. As all things should be.”
A+ reference game aside, the simple recipe of the Martini makes it a super easy drink to experiment with. Thanks to the two base spirits, you can change the amount of either or both, to better suit your palate. As the name suggests, the 50/50 Martini takes the sliders on both the gin and vermouth, and sets them at equal levels, making it one of the more “wet” Martinis out there.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. of gin
- 1.5 oz. of dry vermouth
- 1 dash of orange bitters
- Lemon twist to garnish
How To Make 50/50 Martini
- Stir the gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters, and ice in a mixing glass until well chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Use a lemon twist to garnish.
4. Reverse Martini
If you are someone who likes their Martinis for the Vermouth and can’t get enough of the fortified wine, Initram is just the cocktail for you (get it?)
The Reverse Martini makes two significant changes to the classic cocktail recipe, replacing the gin with vodka and having the vermouth occupy a major part of the cocktail’s alcohol content. The cocktail is also flavored with cherry instead of the traditional bitters, which adds to the sweetness of the vermouth.
Ingredients
- 1.75 oz. of vermouth
- 1 oz. of vodka
- 1 tsp of maraschino liqueur
- Brandied cherry for garnish
How To Make Reverse Martini
- Stir the vermouth, vodka and maraschino liqueur in a mixing glass with ice until well-chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Use a speared brandied cherry to garnish.
Also Read: 6 Floral Cocktails To Try This Summer
5. Martinez
The dark, multi flavored Matinez can be called the Dalai Lama of Martinis, because it is “one with everything”. Martinez is a variation of the Martini that focuses on the sweet flavors more than the strong taste of gin or vodka. This is why the recipe to Martinez calls for sweet vermouth as well as cherry liqueur. In order to stop the sweetness of the ingredients from overpowering the drink and turning it into a dessert, the Martinez also incorporates bitters in its recipe, preserving the sharp taste that is the hallmark of Martinis.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. of gin
- 1.5 oz. of sweet vermouth
- 0.25 oz. of maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange twist to garnish
How To Make Martinez
- Stir the gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice until well-chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish using the orange twist.
6. Perfect Martini
If Ed Sheeran was to make a Martini, this is probably the recipe he’d go for, because… you know? Perfect?
Anyway, the Perfect Martini might sound like yet another attempt by cocktail purists to gatekeep the drink and limit it to a specific recipe, but this might very well be the most “varied” variation of the drink on the list. The Perfect Martini is a more vermouth-heavy version of the cocktail and uses both dry and sweet vermouth in its recipe.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. of gin
- 1 oz. of dry vermouth
- 1 oz. of sweet vermouth
- 0.5 tsp maraschino liqueur
- 1 dash Gage & Tollner house bitters (an equal-parts mix of Angostura and The Bitter Truth Bogart’s bitters. In case of unavailability, use only Angostura bitters.)
- Lemon twist to garnish
How To Make Perfect Martini
- Add the gin, vermouths, maraschino liqueur, and bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
- Use a lemon twist to garnish.
Also Read: 5 Mumbai Bars With Live Music That You Must Visit
7. Turf Club
If you like black licorice and Martinis, the Turf Club could definitely be a drink that you keep coming back to. Closely resembling the Martinez, the Turf Club changes things up by introducing absinthe to the mix. The mildly sweet, spicy, and slightly earthy flavor of the absinthe perfectly ties the flavors of vermouth, liqueur, gin, and bitters together.
Ingredients
- 2 oz. of gin
- 0.75 oz. of dry vermouth
- 0.25 oz. of maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes of absinthe
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- Lemon twist to garnish
How To Make Turf Club
- Stir the gin, dry vermouth, maraschino, absinthe, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir well until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish using lemon twist.
Also Read: The History Behind The Green Fairy – Absinthe
Summing Up
The Martini is more of a strong cocktail with not too many ingredients. This makes the drink a perfect playground for experimenting with alcohol levels, flavors and more. While the Classic Martini remains timeless and it’s never a matter of “which version is better”, trying one of these variations just might be what you need to find your “regular”.
FAQs
What Are The Most Popular Martinis?
The Classic Martini is a crowd favorite because, well, it’s the classic. However, some of the most popular Martini variations are:
- Dry Martini
- Dirty Martini
- 50/50 Martini
- Vodka Martini
- Perfect Martini
Which Martini Is The Strongest?
A traditional Martini primarily consists of two base spirits, gin and vermouth. Since gin has a higher ABV, the drier (less vermouth, more gin) you order, the stronger your martini will get. You can even try ordering or making a “Bone Dry” Martini that only uses the vermouth to rinse the glass and impart very little of its flavor.
What Is The Best Martini For Beginners?
The Classic Martini is the best starting point for a beginner. The aged old combination of gin and vermouth helps beginners get an understanding of what the cocktail has to offer.
Are Martinis 100% Alcohol?
Martinis are usually made with gin or vodka, which are spirits with high ABVs, mixed with vermouth. Taking the vermouth out of the equation (a Bone Dry Martini) can result in a Martini that is almost a 100% alcohol, as well as one of the strongest cocktails you can order.
What Is ‘The Two Martini Rule’?
The Two Martini Rule states that once you’ve had two Martinis, you must move on to a soft drink, like a wine or a Gin and Tonic. The purpose of the rule is to stop patrons at a bar from getting too drunk and possibly causing a rabble or passing out.
What Is In A Perfect Martini?
A Perfect Martini might sound like a drink that bartenders and mixologists dream of, but it is a very real variation of the gin and vermouth based cocktail. It is made by reducing the amount of gin used in the cocktail and adding sweet vermouth as well as maraschino liqueur to the recipe.
What Are The Three Types Of Martinis?
The three types of Martinis are wet, dry and perfect. The type is decided by the amount of vermouth (a fortified wine) added, or not to the cocktail. Dry Martinis have less vermouth, as opposed to Wet Martinis. Perfect Martinis are made by substituting some of the gin in the drink with sweet vermouth.
