Vodka martini is a very common variation of Martini. Originally Martini is made of gin and vermouth and is garnished with lemon wedges or olives. Martini is a very popular cocktail. E.B White called it “the elixir of quietude”. Vodka martini is a combination of vodka and vermouth with olives in it. It is also known as Vodkatini or Kangaroo cocktail.
Vodka Martini
Ingredients
4 ounces vodka 1 ounce dry vermouth 2 stuffed green olives Crushed ice
Method
Take a cocktail shaker and fill it with finely crushed ice. Pour the vodka and vermouth over the ice. Shake well and thoroughly till the vodka and vermouth are well blended together.
Take a chilled cocktail glass and put the olives on a toothpick and put them in the glass. Strain the vodka martini into the glass. Put lemon twists on the rim of the glass and serve.
Original Martini Recipe
Ingredients
3 ounces gin 1 ounce vermouth 2 stuffed green olives or lemon twists Orange bitters optional
Method
Fill the cocktail shaker with finely crushed ice. Pour the gin and the vermouth over the crushed ice and shake thoroughly till they are well blended.
Strain the mixture in a martini glass or cocktail glass. You can add a dash of orange bitters to the drink. Garnish with green olives or lemon twists and serve chilled.
Another way of making vodka martini is by stirring it. Many people prefer the stirred martini to the shaken one. The ingredients are the same for both the methods.
Method
Take a mixing glass and fill it with ice till it is half full. Pour the gin and vermouth over the ice and stir the mixture for 30 to 40 seconds.
Strain the mixture in a martini or cocktail glass and garnish with olives or lemon twists. If you desire, you can also add a dash of orange bitters to the drink before serving.
Dirty Martini
This is another classic and a very popular variation of original martini. This martini is for the olive lovers. In this cocktail we use olive brine instead of olives soaking in the drink like martin and that’s why it is called dirty martini. You have to be very careful with the olive brine; little bit more than required will ruin the drink. It can be served on the rocks or chilled.
Ingredients
3 ounces gin 1 ounce vermouth 1 ounce olive brine Stuffed green olives to garnish Crushed ice
Method
In a mixing glass pour gin and vermouth. Slowly add olive brine. Go on adding crushed ice till the glass is almost full. Stir well till all the ingredients are blended together thoroughly.
Strain the mixture into a bowl and from it, pour into individual cocktail glasses. Garnish with lots of olives and serve chilled.
Dirty Martini With Vodka
Ingredients
4 ounces vodka 1 ounce vermouth 1 ounce olive brine Stuffed green olive for garnish Crushed ice
Method
In a cocktail shaker pour vodka and vermouth. Slowly pour in the olive brine stirring continuously. Go on adding finely crushed ice till the shaker is almost full. Shake well for 30 seconds. See that all the ingredients have blended together well and the drink has become thoroughly chilled.
Chill cocktail glasses by filling them with some water and keeping them in the fridge for 10 minutes or more. Remove the water and use the chilled glasses. Strain the mixture of vodka and vermouth into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with stuffed green olives before serving.