Manly Mixology: The Dry Martini

Okay so in your quest for manly drinks you might not have considered the Martini as a great example, isn’t that something that the girls in Sex and The City drank? But Dry Martinis have been consumed by the manliest men since the 1930s.James Bond preferred his shaken, not stirred. Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Sinatra also enjoyed the drink. It’s simple, it’s elegant, and when served correctly it can project a level of class and sophistication that has become very rare in this day and age.

How to make a Dry Martini

To create the perfect dry martini, you will need the following ingredients:

• Cocktail Glass (don’t even try and pretend that a Dry Martini tastes the same out of a mug)
• Ice Cubes
• 1 part Dry Vermouth
• 2 parts Vodka (we recommend Heroes Vodka or Tito's!)
• Dash of Orange Bitters
• Carafe or Cocktail Shaker
• Stirring Spoon (either a fancy cocktail stirrer or regular spoon)
• Olive or Lemon Peel (but not both)

Fill carafe or cocktail shaker (or any large vessel) with ice cubes, and place one ice cube in your cocktail glass. Add 1 part dry vermouth and 2 parts gin. Use this formula for a single serving or for 10 servings. Add a dash of orange bitters and then slowly stir ingredients together with a spoon.Alternatively, you can James Bond it and shake all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker. Most mixologists claim that this is an inferior method, but most mixologists aren’t as cool as James Bond, so make up your own mind. Pour into glass and then you can garnish your drink with either an olive or with some lemon peel.

What Vermouth goes into a Dry Martini?

Probably the most famous dry vermouth to be used in a martini is a French vermouth named Noilly Prat. It has been made for over 160 years and has been declared the only vermouth for a martini. But that does not mean that it is the only vermouth available: there’s Cinzano extra dry, Vervino Vermouth, or even a Californian dry Vermouth from Lo-Fi Aperitifs.

What are Orange Bitters?

Bitters are cocktail flavorings that are added to drinks, either to make them sour, bitter or in this case to give them an orange flavoring. A little goes a long way with bitters, and you certainly wouldn’t want to drink any on their own. Probably the most famous Bitters producer is Angostura, a company based in the Caribbean. Their Orange Bitters is perfect for a dry martini.