If youve ever wondered what exactly a martini is, youre not alone. These old-school cocktails definitely have some mystery to them. Are they pretty much straight liquor in a glass, or a more complicated fruity drink that packs a punch? What exactly was James Bond drinking? Whether you’ve got a fully stocked at-home bar or are looking for inspiration for what to order when you go out, we’ve got some answers (and 31 martini recipes!) for you.
At its most basic, a martini is gin or vodka and dry vermouth in certain proportions (usually 2 ½ oz. alcohol to ½ oz. vermouth), with an olive or lemon peel for garnish. Though it’s a super simple recipe, there are some adjustments you can make. Making a martini “dry” means using less vermouth and more vodka (“wet” means the opposite, though is less popular), and “dirty” adding a splash of olive juice with your olives. “Perfect” means using an equal amount of both, and “neat” means using room temperature ingredients, rather than ones shaken or stirred over ice. No matter which way you go at home, the most important thing is to start with good ingredients, since they’re the stars of the show.
Have some… shall we say, less than desirable vodka or gin? That’s where martini’s sweet alter ego comes in to save the day. More guilty pleasure dessert drinks than liquor-forward sippers, “-tinis” (as they were coined in the ‘90s and 00s), are sweet, often creamy, cocktails that come in every flavor you can think of. Try our lemon drop or appletini if you like things tart, or our sugar cookie martini or crème brûlée martini if you want something sweeter. Though they might not seem it, these babies are STRONG. Some of them taste like a milkshake, but they all pack a punch, so drink responsibly.
Want more liquor inspiration? Check out our list of our top vodka drinks and bourbon cocktails. Have more of a sweet tooth? Try our Baileys Irish Creme cocktails—they’re pretty much dessert in a glass.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
More like a cosmopolitan than a classic martini, this recipe replaces the cosmo’s traditional cranberry juice with pomegranate. Garnish with a sugar rim and a fresh rosemary sprig for the perfect drink to serve at all your winter gatherings.
Before you start, make sure your vodka and vermouth are quality—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just wont do. Whether you go shaken or stirred, youll feel on top of the world after your first sip.
Curious how to achieve this impressive garnish? Cover half the glass with a napkin or paper towel then dust the rest with either cocoa or espresso powder. Top the other side with coffee beans and voila! You have a drink thats not only delicious but also looks stunning.
We love topping ours with shaved chocolate or a pinch of cocoa powder, but feel free to get creative on the garnishes! Try adding a strawberry or a spring of mint, or even adding crushed Oreos to the rim.
These martinis taste just like a crème brûlée with very little effort. Be sure to keep the caramel in the freezer until you are ready to serve. The caramel will eventually melt into your drink making it extra indulgent.
To make these peppermint-bark-inspired drinks, youll combine white chocolate liqueur, vodka, peppermint schnapps, and heavy cream in a cocktail shaker with ice, before serving these shaken—not stirred—martinis with a homemade chocolate and peppermint rim. Were feeling festive already!
Dalgona, or whipped coffee, is now the coolest thing to top all of your drinks with. Try it on top of this simple Baileys martini for an instant trendy pick me up.
Rumchata, creme de cocoa, and bourbon come together to make this drinkable version of pecan pie. These martinis might look cute and innocent, but trust us, theyre STRONG.
Love Christmas sugar cookies? Us too, so we made this festive cocktail inspired by them. Baileys, vanilla vodka, and Amaretto give it that cookie-vibe, and the tiny candy cane-shaped sugar cookie hanging off the sprinkle-covered rim make it extra adorable—use seasonal favorites to enjoy this year-round!
Put the rum in the coconut and shake it all up Not a fan of coconut? Regular rum works just fine here too.
Cadbury Creme Egg lovers, we made this drink just for you. Not unlike the candy, these martinis are VERY sweet. If youd like to tone down the sweetness, wed suggest omitting the sweetened condensed milk. (Even though it looks so darn cute at the bottom of these!)
Banana Cream Pie Martini
Part dessert, part cocktail, this drink is seriously indulgent. The flavor of banana pudding, one of our very favorite desserts, comes from the combination of vanilla vodka, Baileys, and banana liqueur, and whipped cream. We know it sounds like a lot, but trust us, its the real deal.
Get the Banana Cream Pie Martini recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
No campfire? No problem! We roasted our marshmallows over our oven burners. Its a totally optional step, but we think it really drives the smores flavor home.
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Key Lime Pie Martini
This cocktail is modeled after our favorite key lime pie, without any of the hassle of baking! It manages to be both tart and creamy, and is the perfect summer drink.
Get the Key Lime Pie Martini recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
3 Easy MARTINI Cocktails | Cocktail Recipes
FAQ
What is the best alcohol for a martini?
What is the standard alcohol in a martini?
Are dirty martinis usually gin or vodka?
What is a vodka martini?
The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. A popular variation, the vodka martini, uses vodka instead of gin for the cocktail’s base spirit.
What gin does a martini use?
A classic martini uses not just any gin, it uses a London dry gin. This does not mean the gin needs to be made in London, however! The term “London dry gin” means that it follows a specific process that ensures the quality of the gin. It also uses a dry vermouth, and the ratio of vermouth to gin can be no more than 1:1 (and is usually less).
What do you put in a martini?
Whether you’ve got a fully stocked at-home bar or are looking for inspiration for what to order when you go out, we’ve got some answers (and 31 martini recipes!) for you. At its most basic, a martini is gin or vodka and dry vermouth in certain proportions (usually 2 ½ oz. alcohol to ½ oz. vermouth), with an olive or lemon peel for garnish.
Is a Martini a real cocktail?
A trend that started in the 1980s was to use the term “martini” to refer to other mostly-hard-liquor cocktails such as Manhattan, Cosmopolitan, whose commonality with the original drink is the cocktail glass in which they are served. There is some debate as to whether or not these are true martinis.