Nothing beats a well-made Martini
The Martini is, without
question, the ultimate classic cocktail. And, when it comes to home bar
panache,nothing says cocktail hour more than an ice-cold, crystal clear,
perfectly made version of this drink.
Ignoring the famous words of James Bond, the
classic Martini always stirred not shaken. Save the rattle
of ice cubes for another night, and opt for the mixing glass for this ritual.
Be it the original gin
Martini or the iconic, Mad Men-era Smirnoff Martini , the Martini needs to be
served absolutely icy cold. The key to achieving this is good, large, solid ice
cubes, fresh from the freezer – small, hollow or melting ice cubes will
over-dilute the drink.
Stir
the ingredients with plenty of ice until they are fully blended, freezing cold
and only very slightly diluted: most bartenders stir Martinis for 15 to 20
seconds and serve in glasses that have been frosted in the freezer. The precise
proportions of gin or vodka and vermouth in the classic Martini are a matter of
personal preference. The more vermouth a Martini includes, the ‘wetter’ it
becomes; the less vermouth, the ‘drier’ it will turn out. A Martini served
without vermouth is a Naked Martini.
The
rich flavour of Tanqueray works best at a ratio of
10:1, while the Smirnoff Martini is best enjoyed wetter, at a ratio of 2.5:1. As
with the garnish, however, the choice is down to the
drinker.
Classic
Martini variations include the Vesper Martini, created by James Bond for the
double agent Vesper Lynn, which includes both Smirnoff and gin, and the Dirty
Martini, which benefits from a hit of olive brine. The olives in a Dirty
Martini are always green, and many bartenders like to prepare their olives by
soaking them in the base spirit overnight. In the classic Martini, the base
spirit sings.
If
guests don't enjoy the full flavour of the classic Martini, a contemporary
Martini style that's worth considering is the Espresso Martini, a
full-flavoured blend of espresso, coffee and Smirnoff, created by London
bartender Dick Bradsell in the 1980s for a famous model who wanted something
that would “wake me up”. It will certainly liven up your taste buds – and your
party.
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