John shares his recipe for a pre-Prohibition martini—a throwback to an era with petite drinks that were stirred, not shaken.
1. How to chill a martini glass: Add ice and water to the glass before making the drink and pour out just before straining a cocktail into the glass.
2. The perfect proportion of gin to vermouth in a martini: A classic pre-Prohibition martini had more vermouth than today's martini. Today's martini, John says, is typically 5 to 6 ounces of vodka, just kissed with white vermouth. (Most people say a ratio of 4 or 5 to 1 is standard.) But a classic pre-Prohibition martini was a "small delicate drink," he says — with 2 ounces of gin for every ¾ ounce of vermouth. (Almost twice as much vermouth as today's preferred ratio.)
3. When to stir instead of shake a cocktail: If the ingredients are clear (i.e., no juice, no cream, etc.), stir instead of shaking to keep the drink from becoming cloudy.
Bonus: The secret ingredient in a proper martini is orange bitters.
Try pairing this martini with Rach's Bacon-Cheddar Sirloin Burgers with Horseradish and Garlic.
For another historic-inspired cocktail, check out the James Bond Vesper Martini John mixed up or go for a timeless classic—John's Filthy Dirty Martini.
Combine gin, vermouth and orange bitters in a cocktail shaker, then fill with ice and stir to chill. Strain into a chilled martini glass, then garnish with a lemon twist.
Always drink responsibly.