How to Order Martinis
0Whether it’s a night out with the girls or a date with a lover, ordering the perfect drink is essential. Many people find the thought of ordering a martini rather daunting. With so many variations of the drink, it really can get confusing! Here’s a guide on how you can walk into a bar, and know how to order a martini.
Ordering Martinis – Tips on How to Do This
Martinis can be, if chosen wisely, your ideal drink. It’s smooth and rich, with a lot of alcohol. Now, don’t get confused when you see “x martini” written somewhere. Those aren’t the ones you want to reach for as they usually include appletinis, espresso martinis, etc. These drinks are only served in a cocktail glass, a conical glass that is usually associated with the martini. Manhattans, Rob Roys, El Presidentes, Cosmopolitians, Grasshoppers are also served in these wide rimmed glasses. They can be served in the old school coupe, Nick and Nora, and even an old-fashioned glass due to the wide perimeter of the glass. This prevents the smell of alcohol from overpowering your nose. Martinis are cocktails, blended into a rich mixture of 2 parts spirit (gin or vodka generally), 1 part fortified wine (white or dry vermouth generally), and water. To give it that extra punch, lemon, olives or even onions can be used as garnishes.
Customize to your heart’s content. If gin isn’t up your alley, reach for a vodka blend. Gin and vodka, although make up the foundation of the drink, can make the cocktail vary in flavor. Vodka is a well filtered, distilled spirit. The high quality kind, usually lacks in flavor altogether, making the choice of vermouth more distinct on your palate. Gin on the other hand, is less filtered, so it balances the levels of spirit and vermouth, almost perfectly.
Now when it comes to making the choice of whether to shake or stir your drink, here’s how you go about that. Generally it’s better to shake vodka and stir gin. It’s recommended to not shake gin, since you’ll just be making it oily and ordering yourself a drink that tastes of peroxide.
Wet or dry? That can be a confusing concept to someone who’s not used to ordering martinis. It’s simple, wet equals less alcohol, more vermouth. Dry equals more alcohol, less vermouth. You might come across “very-dry martini”, and that means you’ve got yourself a smidge of vermouth. Usually the rim is chilled and rubbed with vermouth, if you’re going dry that is. Before you get confused, there are several more names for martinis. “On the rocks” means a lot of ice! Straight up is similar except the drink is first stirred or shaken with ice. A dirty martini adds green olive brine to the concoction. A burnt martini lets scotch lovers indulge, as the drop of scotch floats on top for a powerful taste. All in all, these are just the basics of ordering a martini. Now you know what needs to be stirred, and what needs the good ol’ shakin. Don’t forget to order the garnishes, they really do complete the drink.