Cocktails · Vodka
Vodka Martini RecipeHow to Make It Shaken or Stirred (Plus Variations and a Zero-Proof Twin)
How to make a vodka martini the right way, shaken or stirred, with a lemon twist or olives, plus the French, apple and cucumber martini and a zero-proof twin.
4 min read5 drinks ⇄ 5 twins ↓
A vodka martini is 2½ oz vodka and ½ oz dry vermouth, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled glass with a lemon twist or olives. Shake it for a colder, cloudier drink; stir it for a silkier, clearer one. Either way, the key is that it is very, very cold.
This vodka martini recipe covers the classic, the shaken-with-olives version and three popular variations: the French martini, the apple martini and a cucumber martini. Each card has a zero-proof twin that is cold, clean and just as elegant in the glass.
What Is a Vodka Martini?
A vodka martini is a classic martini made with vodka in place of gin. Because vodka is neutral, the drink tastes cleaner and colder, with the vermouth and the garnish doing the talking. It is also what many bars serve when someone orders “a martini” without specifying.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Martini glassStirred3 minStrong · 30%
Martini glassStirred3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 3 oz
The pour · 3 oz
Classic Vodka Martini
Cucumber Tea Martini
Vodka and a touch of dry vermouth, stirred ice-cold.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon twist
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon twist
Method
- 1Fill a mixing glass with ice and add the vodka and vermouth.
- 2Stir for 20 to 30 seconds, until the glass is frosted.
- 3Strain into a frozen martini glass and express a lemon peel over the top.
Method
- 1Fill a mixing glass with ice and add the tea, verjus, cucumber juice and salt.
- 2Stir for 20 to 30 seconds.
- 3Strain into a frozen martini glass and express a lemon peel over the top.
How the swap works
Cold tea gives the clean, dry bite of vodka, and cucumber and a pinch of salt add the crisp finish.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
How to Make a Vodka Martini, Step by Step
- Keep the vodka and the martini glasses in the freezer. A vodka martini is all about being cold.
- Fill a mixing glass with ice and add 2½ oz vodka and ½ oz dry vermouth.
- stir for 20 to 30 seconds, until the glass is frosted.
- Strain into a frozen glass and add a lemon twist or olives.
The glass and bottle straight from the freezer make a difference: they keep the drink cold for longer and mean you need less dilution to get it chilled.
Shaken or Stirred?
Both are correct. Stirred gives a silky, crystal-clear martini. Shaken makes it colder and cloudier, with a few ice crystals floating on top, which many people like. If you shake, do it hard for about 10 seconds and strain through a fine strainer.
The shaken version below is the classic with olives, served with a few ice shards on top.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Martini glassShaken3 minStrong · 29%
Martini glassShaken3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 3 oz
The pour · 3 oz
Shaken Vodka Martini with Olives
Briny Shaken Martini
Shaken hard, with ice crystals on top and three olives.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishThree green olives on a pick
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishThree green olives on a pick
Method
- 1Add the vodka and vermouth to a shaker filled with ice.
- 2Shake hard for 10 seconds.
- 3Strain through a fine strainer into a frozen glass and add the olives.
Method
- 1Add the tea, verjus and brine to a shaker filled with ice.
- 2Shake hard for 10 seconds.
- 3Strain through a fine strainer into a frozen glass and add the olives.
How the swap works
A little olive brine makes the olives taste right and gives the savory edge vodka would add.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Those ice crystals on the surface of a shaken martini are a good sign: it was shaken hard and served cold.
How Much Vermouth?
The standard modern ratio is five parts vodka to one part dry vermouth (2½ oz to ½ oz). Use more for a wetter, softer martini and less for a drier one. Keep the vermouth in the fridge: it is wine, and it goes stale in a few weeks once opened.
Which Vodka for a Martini?
Use a vodka you would happily sip, since there is nothing to hide it. A smooth, mid- to upper-priced vodka is worth it here, even if you save the cheaper bottle for vodka mixed drinks. Grain-based vodkas taste softer and slightly sweet, while potato-based ones are creamier.
Vodka Martini Variations
French Martini
Vodka, pineapple juice and raspberry liqueur, shaken until frothy. The pineapple juice gives it the foam, so shake it hard.
Fresh raspberries and a good pineapple juice are all it needs.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
CoupeShaken3 minMedium · 16%
CoupeShaken3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 3½ oz
The pour · 2¾ oz
French Martini
Raspberry Pineapple Martini
Vodka, pineapple and raspberry liqueur, shaken until frothy.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishRaspberry on a pick
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishRaspberry on a pick
Method
- 1Shake everything with ice for 10 to 12 seconds, until frothy.
- 2Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- 3Garnish with a raspberry.
Method
- 1Muddle the raspberries in a shaker, then add the remaining ingredients and ice.
- 2Shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds.
- 3Double-strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a raspberry.
How the swap works
Fresh raspberries replace the liqueur and lime adds the acid, and pineapple still gives the foam.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Apple Martini
A bright green drink that is sharper than it looks. Use a tart green apple for the garnish and a squeeze of lemon on the slices to keep them from browning.
Fan the slices thin, with a squeeze of lemon on them to stop browning.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Martini glassShaken3 minStrong · 23%
Martini glassShaken3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 3½ oz
The pour · 5 oz
Apple Martini
Green Apple Sparkler
Vodka, apple liqueur and lemon, bright green.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishFan of green apple slices
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishFan of green apple slices
Method
- 1Shake everything with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
- 2Strain into a chilled martini glass.
- 3Garnish with a fan of thin apple slices.
Method
- 1Shake the apple juice, lemon juice and syrup with ice for 10 seconds.
- 2Strain into a chilled martini glass and top with soda.
- 3Garnish with a fan of thin apple slices.
How the swap works
Fresh green apple juice has the tartness of the liqueur; soda adds the lift a spirit would.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Cucumber Martini
Cool, clean and almost savory. Peel a long ribbon with a vegetable peeler, then curl it and spear it with a pick.
Curl the ribbon and spear it with a pick, or lay it along the rim.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
CoupeShaken5 minStrong · 20%
CoupeShaken5 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 3½ oz
The pour · 3½ oz
Cucumber Vodka Martini
Cucumber Mint Martini
Vodka, vermouth, lime and fresh cucumber.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishCucumber ribbon and a mint leaf
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishCucumber ribbon and a mint leaf
Method
- 1Muddle the cucumber with the syrup and lime juice in a shaker.
- 2Add the vodka, vermouth and ice and shake for 10 seconds.
- 3Double-strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a cucumber ribbon.
Method
- 1Muddle the cucumber and mint with the syrup and lime juice in a shaker.
- 2Add the tea, verjus and ice and shake for 10 seconds.
- 3Double-strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a cucumber ribbon.
How the swap works
Green tea has a grassy bite that suits cucumber, and verjus replaces the vermouth's wine-like acidity.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
A Zero-Proof Vodka Martini
Vodka is the easiest spirit to replace, because its main job is to be cold and clean. Chilled black tea gives a dry, slightly tannic backbone, verjus replaces vermouth, and cucumber adds snap. Stir or shake with ice and serve in a frozen glass.
For the rest of the family, see the types of martinis, the dirty martini and the chocolate martini. More vodka drinks are in vodka cocktails, and the method for the twins is in how to make mocktails.
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Last call
Questions from the bar
Q1How do you make a vodka martini?
Fill a mixing glass with ice, add 2½ oz vodka and ½ oz dry vermouth, stir for 20 to 30 seconds and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives.
Martini recipe ↗Q2Should a vodka martini be shaken or stirred?
Either works. Stirred is silkier and clearer; shaken is colder and cloudier, with a few ice crystals on top. Shake hard for 10 seconds and strain through a fine strainer if you shake.
Q3What is the ratio for a vodka martini?
The usual modern ratio is 5 parts vodka to 1 part dry vermouth: 2½ oz vodka to ½ oz vermouth. Use more vermouth for a softer drink and less for a drier one.
Q4What is the difference between a vodka martini and a gin martini?
A gin martini has the botanical flavor of juniper, while a vodka martini is neutral, cleaner and colder-tasting. They are made the same way.
Dirty martini recipe ↗Q5How do you make a vodka martini less strong?
Use less vodka (2 oz instead of 2½), a little more vermouth and stir longer so there is more dilution. A 50/50 style with equal vodka and vermouth is even lighter.
Q6What does "dry" mean in a vodka martini?
"Dry" means less vermouth, not less sweetness. A dry vodka martini has just a touch (or a rinse) of vermouth, and an extra-dry one has almost none.
Types of martinis ↗Another round?
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