Dry Martini

Steps

1. 1

   Measure 60ml of gin and 10ml of dry vermouth into the mixing glass. Add 2 dashes of orange bitters if you are using them. The vermouth ratio is up to your taste, but start here for a classic dry balance.

   

   !Using too much vermouth makes the drink taste watery and flat instead of crisp.

2. 2

   Fill the mixing glass to the top with large, solid ice cubes. The more ice you use, the less it melts and waters down your drink while you stir. The ice should sit well above the liquid line.

   

   !Using small, cracked ice will melt too fast and over-dilute the drink before it gets cold.

3. 3

   Grab your bar spoon and stir steadily for about 30 seconds. You will know you are done when the outside of the mixing glass feels very cold to the touch and frost starts to form on the outside.

   ~30s

   

   !Stirring too fast or aggressively chips the ice and makes the drink cloudy.

4. 4

   Take your chilled Martini glass and place the Hawthorne strainer over the top of the mixing glass. Pour the drink through the strainer into the glass, leaving all the ice behind in the mixing glass.

   

   !Letting ice slip into the serving glass waters it down quickly.

5. 5

   Hold a lemon peel over the drink, colored side facing down, and give it a good twist so the oils spray over the surface. Drop the peel into the glass, or swap it for a green olive if you prefer a salty kick.

   

   !Twisting the peel colored side up sprays the citrus oils away from the drink.