Dry Martini 3:1
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 34.2% ABV ∙
The Dry Martini 3:1 is a stirred spirit-forward cocktail of London dry gin and dry vermouth in a 3:1 ratio, served up with an olive or lemon twist. Cold and bracing, with juniper and botanicals leading and only a thin ribbon of vermouth underneath, finishing dry and faintly bitter if the orange bitters are used.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 60 mlDry vermouth 20 mlOrange bitters 1 dash
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with an olive or a lemon twist on a skewer
Tips
- Stir gin and vermouth with large ice cubes for about 20-25 seconds until the mixing glass feels ice-cold; never shake, or the martini turns cloudy and over-diluted.
- Measure the 3:1 gin-to-vermouth ratio precisely and add vermouth to the mixing glass first so it coats the ice before the gin is poured over.
History
The Martini's exact origin is disputed among rival theories tied to San Francisco's 1860s Martinez cocktail and a Knickerbocker Hotel bartender around 1911. By 1922 the drink had settled into a widely recognized form combining London dry gin and dry vermouth at a 2:1 ratio, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled glass.
During Prohibition, bartenders working with poor-quality bathtub gin leaned on more vermouth to mask its harshness. After Repeal, with better gin available, the balance shifted toward far less vermouth, and a 3:1 gin-to-vermouth build became the new standard "dry" style — part of the broader postwar trend toward progressively drier Martinis.
