Making the perfect martini requires that you have a little knowledge about the role that Vermouth can play in the resultant taste. Technically the perfect martini would be one that uses equal parts of dry and sweet vermouth in one part to three parts gin (not vodka!) Only poseurs call a vodka martini a martini.
To understand the history of vermouth’s role in martini making you need to understand that the original martini was made with Italian (sweet) Vermouth. Dry cocktails came along much later when French (dry) vermouth was invented. So for the longest time, when people ordered a “dry” martini or a “dry” Manhattan they meant a cocktail that was created with French vermouth.
The invention of French (dry) Vermouth also created another Martini called “the Perfect Martini.” A perfect martini is made with equal parts of BOTH French (dry) and Italian (sweet) vermouth. When they ordered a “dry martini” the cocktail was made with French vermouth only.
Somehow over time, the term “dry martini” also came to mean adding less and less vermouth. This is has evolved to the extent that in the 21st century bartenders are now putting vermouth in “misters” and simply spraying the glass with Vermouth.
As rule of thumb remember that a glass of chilled vodka is not a martini. It is just a glass of vodka.
The second aspect of making a perfect martini has to do with “tuning” the flavors. The sharp alcoholic bite of straight gin or vodka does not count as a flavor; it is more of a texture. The reason gin is preferred is because it is a blend of botanical and sometimes spicy flavors in itself. A true martini gets its ‘nip” from the juniper in gin.
One of the secrets to making a great martini is to mix these ingredients so that they achieve a perfect balance.
First make sure you are using high quality ingredients: gin and vermouth.
Make sure you are using high quality water. Chlorine is not a tasty element in a martini.
Whether you are making a Martinez, a Dry Martini or a Perfect Martini make sure you follow your recipe to the letter.
Estimate the amount of ice you want to melt into the water before you load the ice into the shaker. Remember that if you shake a Martini, there will be more water melded into the water than if you stir it.
Be sure to strain the drink before you pour it into a chilled glass and garish it with the appropriate onion or olive