What does a martini taste like?
A classic martini tastes cold, dry and strong: piney, herbal gin softened by a little dry vermouth, with either a briny olive or a bright lemon twist.
Martini
cold, dry and all gin
A martini is gin and dry vermouth, stirred until it's icy and poured into a stemmed glass. It tastes like gin at its cleanest: pine from juniper, a little citrus and spice from the other botanicals (the herbs and seeds that flavor gin). The vermouth adds a soft, slightly winey herbal edge. A 'dry' martini has less vermouth and tastes sharper. It's very cold and almost silky, and it warms up fast, which is why martinis come small. Vodka martinis taste smoother and plainer.
Where you’ll see it
On nearly every bar menu, with a choice of gin or vodka and olive or twist. You'll also see dirty martinis with olive brine, 50/50 martinis with equal gin and vermouth, and Gibsons with a cocktail onion.
Order it if you want something very cold, dry and strong, with no sweetness at all.
Quick questions
- Is a martini gin or vodka?
- The classic is gin. Vodka martinis are very common, and most bars will ask which you want.
- What does a dry martini mean?
- Less dry vermouth. A very dry martini is nearly all gin or vodka, so it tastes sharper and stronger.
- Should a martini be shaken or stirred?
- Stirred is traditional and keeps it clear and silky. Shaken makes it colder, a little more watered down and cloudy. Both are fine, just different.