Perfect Martini
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 24.6% ABV ∙
The Perfect Martini is a stirred gin Martini with the vermouth split equally between dry and sweet, plus a dash of orange bitters.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 45 mlDry vermouth 20 mlRosso vermouth 20 mlOrange bitters 1 dash
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir over ice until the mixing glass frosts, roughly 20-30 seconds, to chill and dilute without clouding the drink.
- Measure the 20 ml of dry and 20 ml of rosso vermouth separately rather than eyeballing them together; equal parts of each is what makes a Martini perfect.
History
The Perfect Martini takes its name from a mixing logic used among early twentieth-century bartenders: balancing equal parts dry and sweet vermouth against gin, splitting the difference between an all-dry Martini and an all-sweet one. Harry Craddock's 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book listed the drink as the "Medium" Martini rather than "Perfect." David Embury also used "Medium Martini" in his 1948 The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, pointedly mocking the "Perfect" label. The convention of calling a cocktail "perfect" for its equal split of dry and sweet vermouth was not unique to the Martini, appearing similarly in the Perfect Manhattan.
Where its parent, the Dry Martini, pairs gin with dry vermouth alone, the Perfect Martini adds an equal measure of sweet vermouth for a rounder, softer drink.
FAQ
What is a Perfect Martini?
A stirred gin Martini with its vermouth split equally between dry and rosso. The sweet half makes it softer and slightly sweeter than a classic dry Martini.
What is the difference between a Perfect Martini and a classic Martini?
A classic Martini uses dry vermouth only. A Perfect Martini splits the vermouth evenly between dry and sweet (rosso), so it is softer and slightly sweeter. This recipe also adds a dash of orange bitters, which a classic Martini typically omits.
What is the perfect ratio for a Martini?
Here it is 45 ml gin to 20 ml each of dry and rosso vermouth, plus a dash of orange bitters. The matched vermouth pours, not an ideal gin-to-vermouth ratio, are what the word "perfect" refers to.
What does "perfect" mean in a Martini?
In cocktail terms, "perfect" means the vermouth is split evenly between dry and sweet styles instead of using just one, a naming convention applied to several classic cocktails, not only the Martini. It has nothing to do with the drink being flawless or ideal.
What is the secret to a great Martini?
Cold and exact. Keep stirring until the mixing glass frosts over, 20 to 30 seconds, so the drink chills and dilutes but stays clear. Pour each vermouth on its own, 20 ml apiece, instead of eyeballing them together: the even split is what makes it perfect.
What are common Martini mistakes?
The most common mistakes are under-chilling, over-diluting with an overlong stir, and skipping the expressed orange oils from the garnish.
