Know the recipe
First of all, finding your favorite martini requires knowing what a martini is. At its most basic, a martini is made up of gin or vodka and vermouth (heavy on the former vs. the latter), topped off with a lemon twist. From there, we’ve started adding garnish and extras, but know that you’re not getting anything close to a Long Island Iced Tea — the name of the game is simplicity.
Find your liquor preference
Now, a big controversy in the mixology community centers around whether a martini is best made with vodka or gin. Traditionally, this was a gin-based drink — especially during Prohibition, when gin was easy to get a hold of and produce in secret. But more recently, many imbibers have preferred a vodka base, likely due to the smoother, less fragrant flavor profile of chilled vodka. But, in any case, it’s your pick!
Plan your presentation
What say you, Mr. James Bond? A shaken martini was popularized by 007, but all this means is that the liquor will be shaken up with ice before being strained into a chilled glass vs. gently stirred. Or, if your martini comes on the rocks, you’ll get the ice with it. This is mostly about how much work you want your bartender to do, but it all contributes to the ~vibe~.
Dirty or clean?
Some find the straight-up martini recipe a bit lacking – which is where olive juice comes in. If you order a dirty martini, it’ll come infused with a shot or two of olive brine and garnished with a few green olives. The dirtier it’s ordered, the more olive you’ll get. Why olive juice, you ask? It’s a good counterbalance to the strength of the gin or vodka, settling the bite and infusing with the botanicals of the liquor.
You're ready to go!
Hopefully this sufficiently prepared you to approach a bar with confidence. Happy sipping!