Get to know this foolproof method for a flawless Martini.
About the cocktail
From the classic and the dirty, to the espresso and the briny, Martinis are always on trend. We can confidently say that no matter what flavours you favour, there’s sure to be a ’tini to match. And today, we bring you one you can batch for your next soirée with mates (who’ll sing your praises for your bar-keep skills.) Meet the achingly cool (and perfectly foolproof) Freezer-Door Martini. For a cocktail so simple, the Martini is surprisingly easy to mess up. That’s because dilution and temperature are everything – yet they’re two of the hardest factors to control when mixing over ice. Too much melt? Lifeless. Too little? Harsh. And if it’s anything less than ice-cold? Forget it. Professional bartenders spend years mastering this dark art. But don’t lose hope – just use your freezer. This make-ahead recipe locks in the perfect dilution and chill – and it lasts for (literal) years. No ice, no guesswork, no stress – just the best Martini you’ve ever made, ready to pour on demand. Botanical, herbaceous or citrusy, the beauty of this recipe is your ability to add your own flair. From classic dry and barrel-aged to navy strength or uniquely gin-fused, the gin base is yours to play with until you find your fave. The key is to follow the ratios – 4:1.5:1 (gin to vermouth to water). Once you have that down pat, you can dial up the flavours and styles to your taste. Speaking of, why not have a little fun with it and create a garnish station to impress your guests? Think classic olives, pickled onions or lemon twists, or perhaps blue-cheese stuffed olives, anchovies and Gilda skewers, or maybe even sliced pickles and a range of brines, the world is your oyster. Ooh, Martinis and oysters. Yes please.
Ingredients: for 8 serves
400mL gin 150mL dry vermouth 100mL water (high-quality still mineral works best) Optional: additional vermouth or brine to serve (see top tips below) Glass: coupe or Nick and Nora glass Garnish: whatever you like – e.g. olives, pickled onions, lemon twists, anchovies, etc.
Method
Add all ingredients to a freezer-safe bottle and freeze for a minimum 8 hours or overnight When ready to serve, pop your glasses into the freezer to chill for 20 minutes Pour into the frosty glassware directly from the bottle Garnish with whatever takes your fancy – we're suckers for blue-cheese stuffed olives
Dan’s top tips
Either way, the Martini is a deeply personal drink. Start with our stock-standard 4:1.5:1 ratio (gin to vermouth to water) then adjust from there. To make your Martini dirty, wet or any other adjective, just follow the below instructions:
