The Martini

[Alexander]

For the longest time, my cocktail of choice was a G&T, but I've recently come around to the wonders of the martini. For myself, I like it very dry with two olives (I agree with Eliot Gould's statement in "M*A*S*H" that one cannot truly savor a martini without an olive). Are there any fellow martini drinkers on the board? And if so, how do you drink it?

[Peter Johnson]

Now we're talking!

My order is invariably "Stoli Martini up with one olive."

Yes, one--can't diminish the vodka to olive real estate proportion by including more than one, imho! And no stuffed olives, either (pimiento is okay)...

I find most places make it dry automatically, usually by pouring just a bit of vermouth in the glass, swirling it, and shaking it out of the glass before pouring the vodka in. At home, I use a "misto" to spray a fine mist of vermouth in the glass (geeky, yeah, but what the hell!) and use "Crater Lake" vodka from the Bend Distillery in Bend, Oregon.

They go down waaaaay too smoothly sometimes!

Great topic--it's 5 o'clock somewhere!

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Do you prefer the squirrel decanter or something a bit less fashionable?

[Alec]

Although I don't consider it a martini unless it is made with gin, I try not to be dogmatic about it.

I like mine dry using Bombay Sapphire®

My garnish of choice is a lemon peel, first rubbed along the rim, then twisted to release its oils before being dropped into the glass.

And I like to shake mine.

[tonym]

Dry gin, with lemon or an onion. Then walk past with the Vermouth bottle. You can take the top off it.

[rostasi]

My Dad always liked it under the table.

[Peter Johnson]

Then walk past with the Vermouth bottle. You can take the top off it.

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Even better option than the mister!

[J Larsen]

Four to one, Beefeater, two or three olives depending on their size, lightly chill the glass by filling it with ice cubes while shaking up the booze.

[Big Wheel]

I like mine wet. What's the point of putting vermouth in the drink if you can't taste it?

[jlhoots]

Although I don't consider it a martini unless it is made with gin, I try not to be dogmatic about it.

I like mine dry using Bombay Sapphire®

My garnish of choice is a lemon peel, first rubbed along the rim, then twisted to release its oils before being dropped into the glass.

And I like to shake mine.

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That's it. No vermouth. You can keep the bottle nearby if you must.

Has to be really cold.

I keep the Bombay Sapphire in the freezer.

[Alexander]

Although I don't consider it a martini unless it is made with gin, I try not to be dogmatic about it.

I like mine dry using Bombay Sapphire®

My garnish of choice is a lemon peel, first rubbed along the rim, then twisted to release its oils before being dropped into the glass.

And I like to shake mine.

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Agreed on the vodka "martini" issue. Technically, a martini is a drink made with three parts gin to one part vermouth (I like a little less than one part vermouth. The mister sounds like a good idea!). I also prefer mine shaken (this part, I'm sure, comes from over exposure to James Bond movies as a kid).

[rachel]

This will make the purists cringe, but I love my martinis 'dirty'. The saltier the better.

Edited September 24, 2005 by rachel

[Jazzmoose]

Although I don't consider it a martini unless it is made with gin, I try not to be dogmatic about it.

I like mine dry using Bombay Sapphire®

My garnish of choice is a lemon peel, first rubbed along the rim, then twisted to release its oils before being dropped into the glass.

And I like to shake mine.

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Switch that to stirred (James Bond was an idiot!) and you've got my one and only alcoholic indulgence...

[medjuck]

Straight up with an olive, please.

[StormP]

In San Francisco they like 'em stirred, with a gay stick!

Now, I am talking about Greenall English Gin with a smidgen of Irish gaylick ????

Sorry I couldn't finish this poem. Could somebody help please!

[sheldonm]

In San Francisco they like 'em stirred, with a gay stick!

Now, I am talking about Greenall English Gin with a smidgen of Irish gaylick ????

Sorry I couldn't finish this poem. Could somebody help please!

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[Jazzmoose]

In San Francisco they like 'em stirred, with a gay stick!

Now, I am talking about Greenall English Gin with a smidgen of Irish gaylick ????

Sorry I couldn't finish this poem. Could somebody help please!

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Help you finish the poem, or remove your foot from your mouth?

[catesta]

In San Francisco they like 'em stirred, with a gay stick!

Now, I am talking about Greenall English Gin with a smidgen of Irish gaylick ????

Sorry I couldn't finish this poem. Could somebody help please!

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Say what?

[7/4]

In San Francisco they like 'em stirred, with a gay stick!

Now, I am talking about Greenall English Gin with a smidgen of Irish gaylick ????

Sorry I couldn't finish this poem. Could somebody help please!

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Say what?

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Gaylick? Gay stick? What the hell are you talkin' about?

[Peter Johnson]

Not cringing at all, Rachel--dirty is good, as long as it's not "wet"--vermouth spoils it, but olive juice...ahhhh yeahhhh!!!

This will make the purists cringe, but I love my martinis 'dirty'.  The saltier the better. 

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[Brandon Burke]

My favorite cocktail is a Maker's Mark manhattan. My martini of choice, however, is Ketel One with only a "wash" of vermouth and one big fat olive.

Edited September 25, 2005 by Brandon Burke

[tonym]

Contrary to popular opinion, there are some classy people on this board

[Christiern]

I rarely drink martinis nowadays, but I used to like them with a little more vermouth than most Americans use. If I want to drink gin straight, I drink it straight. BTW, I also like an occasional glass of vermouth.

[Chuck Nessa]

My favorite cocktail is a Maker's Mark manhattan.  My martini of choice, however, is Ketel One with only a "wash" of vermouth and one big fat olive.

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Maker's Mark in a cheap imitation Jack. Manhattans are good on pancakes.

[Chuck Nessa]

Have not had a martini in about 25 years but I used to be addicted to the drink Al mentioned in the first post.