Do you like your Martini Shaken Or Stirred?

Do you like your Martini Shaken Or Stirred? Dirty, Classic of French? There are so many variations and ways to make a martini!

*Paid Collaborative Post*

Martini is a classic cocktail that is enjoyed all over the world. Due to the popularity of the drink, there have now been hundreds and hundreds of variations created. Next time you are enjoying an evening at a bar, look at the different martini cocktails on the menu, and you’ll probably be fascinated by how many variations there are.

Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most popular variations of the martini cocktail…..

• Classic Vodka Martini – There is only one place to begin and this is with the Classic Martini Vodka Cocktail. Traditionally, this cocktail is created with vermouth and gin, and garnished with either a lemon twist or an olive.
• French Martini – The French Martini is a sweet take on the classic cocktail. It is a mixture of vodka, pineapple juice, and Montbisou Framboise liqueur. You can also garnish this drink with a lemon twist.

• Black Tie Martini – As the name suggests, the Black Tie Martini offers a luxurious twist on the classic cocktail. Vanilla vodka is mixed with chocolate vodka to produce this delicious drink. The martini glass is often garnished with chocolate shavings around the edges for the perfect finishing touch.
• Blood Orange Martini – If you are a fan of fruity cocktails, you will love the Blood Orange Martini. This drink is a mix of vodka and sparkling blood orange and it is garnished with a blood orange slice.

• Lemon Meringue Martini – You may think that adding egg white to an alcoholic drink is weird, but it is one of those weird food combinations that work well. There are plenty more too, like vanilla ice cream and olive oil. Yes, trust us on that one! Aside from the egg white, you will need some limoncello, simple syrup, juiced lemon, triple sec, and vodka.
• Dirty Martini – Last but not least we have the Dirty Martini, which offers a slight twist on the classic version. The only difference between the two is that olive juice is used. This goes really well with quality vermouth and gin.

You can also see that a lot of bartenders have made their own unique takes on this drink. A good example is the Hanky Panky, which was created by Ada Coleman, one of the most famous bartenders in history. You don’t often hear about women playing an important role in the history of cocktails and spirits, yet Ada Coleman is certainly an exception.

She first started working in Claridge’s Hotel in London in 1899. It wasn’t long until she moved onto the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel. Here she became known as ‘Coley’ and worked her way up to head bartender.

One of the main reasons why Ada Coleman has became so famous in the world of bar tending is because of her creation the ‘Hanky Panky’, which she made for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey. The original Hanky Panky cocktail was made by combining the following ingredients – Italian Vermouth, Cognac and Fernet Branca.

They were stirred together in a cocktail shaker and then poured into a glass over ice. The drink was garnished by squeezing an orange peel over the top. Fernet Branca, which is a bitter Italian digestivo, was the secret ingredient. A few dashes of this herbal elixir completely transformed the entire drink, which is essentially a variation on the Sweet Martini.

So, now you know about some of the different martini variations, but how do you order this drink?

• Vodka or gin? As you will have noticed from this post, the classic martini is created with gin, whilst a lot of the newer variations use vodka. It all depends on the taste experience you enjoy the most. Gin is very distinct and has an almost herbal flavour. If you find this too strong for your liking, go for a vodka-based cocktail instead.
• Shaken or stirred? The bartender is basically asking you whether you would like your drink to be stirred or shaken in a cocktail shaker with ice. Most martinis are stirred, which results in a smoother drink.
• Dry, perfect or wet? This is the question that seems to perplex most people. What does it mean? The bartender is asking what type of vermouth and how much of it you would like in your martini. A dry martini means less vermouth, whilst a wet martini means more. A perfect martini is equal parts dry and sweet vermouth.