Your best classic martini recipe...

[jeff]

Post it here, and be sure to include specific brand information. I am looking to expand my martini repertoire and, if I find one I like here, I'll gladly take credit for it as my own

[BourbonJoe]

Take a great dry Vermouth and coat the ice cubes in a glass or tumbler. Pour excess away. Fill tumbler with Bombay Saphire Gin. Strain into martini glass or leave on the rocks. Add a dash of olive juice and three large olives. Enjoy.
Joe

[Gillman]

I like Beefeater Gin. It has a big flavor, not as soft as some but firm, steely and full of juniper and orange peel. Add a little white vermouth (Noilly Prat is good). A good Martini needs a certain amount of vermouth, more than a coating on the cubes but less than many people add, say a half-ounce to three ounces of Beefeater. Add two small stuffed olives. Swirl over cubed ice in a rocks glass and pour neat into a stemmed cocktail glass. The statement from a 1970's book I once quoted in connection with good straight vodka, "more like an injection than a drink", is apposite, except this injection has lots of taste.

Gary

P.S. Orange bitters were an addition to the Martini originally and since Liquor Barn (not far from Jeff's location) sells the Collins type, I'd advise to add a little, but just a drop or two.

[ratcheer]

I tend to agree, Gary. I've tried a lot of good gins and Beefeater's is probably the best. And, the good old standard bottling is just great. (Same goes for Bombay).

Vodka? No, not that!

Tim

[pepcycle]

Add a sprig of bruised Rosemary to the mix.
I prefer Tanqueray Ten this week.
It adds a whole new dimension to a Martini. You can even use it as a garnish.

[monte]

Wow - great idea!

-monte-

[pepcycle]

Its not an original idea. I read it in Wine Spectator, I think. It really complements the herbal juniper notes in the Gin.
I've tried a few other common herbs (basil, mint,oregano,sage,cardomom, marjoram,) but none of them work. That was a long afternoon. Maybe catnip next?

[voigtman]

Great timing, Jeff: I just had my first martini last evening and it was quite enjoyable. (I should say it was actually a vodka martini.) We had a guest who likes them, so I bought glasses, a shaker, Ciroc vodka, VYA extra dry vermouth and unstuffed olives. I used Poland Spring water for the ice cubes I filled the shaker with, added the vodka and vermouth in about a 4 to 1 ratio and gave it about 10 seconds of real hard shaking. Then strained the martinis into glasses and added the toothpicked olives. Very good and surprisingly refreshing, but I will be trying the Bombay sapphire recipe before too long! Looking forward to seeing other recipes/techniques. Cheers, Ed

[monte]

...so I bought glasses, a shaker, Ciroc vodka, VYA extra dry vermouth and unstuffed olives...

OK, give up the secret!! Where'd you get the Vya Vermouth?? I have one bottle, hand smuggled from Kentucky from a store who said they bought the Vya over the Internet, but I can't find it in MA whatsoever! LeNell's was out of it when I visited there too.

I understand the same folks that make Vya also make Essensia dessert type wines, which are widely available in eastern MA, but the Vya vermouth is unobtanium!

Damn tasty vermouth though...

TIA,

-monte-

[voigtman]

Monte, the VYA vermouths (extra dry and also the sweet, which I have not tasted yet) are available at Table & Vine in Northampton, MA and also at Town & Country Liquors in West Springfield, MA. Prices are $20.99 per bottle and plenty in stock. (Town & Country is now actually part of Table & Vine, but is not fully integrated with table & Vine, so some prices are different between the two locations, but not these 2 vermouths). The web site for Table & Vine gives full address and contact info: www.tableandvine.com Unfortunately, the web site inventory listing is loaded with errors: items listed long after being gone for good, shelf items never making it to the web site (this is true for all the vermouths, actually), etc. But they can be called or e-mailed. No web site for Town & Country. And worst case scenario is I pick you up some, wallet willing! Cheers, Ed

Well, all these REAL martini recipes have got me wanting to try the Bombay Sapphire/VYA combo and see how it tastes. Think I will wait to the weekend, especially if I try Tim's two minute rule!