Martini Alternatives

Martinis

A martini is as personal as how a person likes their steak cooked, and the variations and combinations are nearly endless.  It could be something as simple as the vermouth to gin ratio, or the vodka to vermouth ratio.  What a martini never is, would be anything without gin or just a flavored cocktail in a chilled glass.  Don’t get me wrong, I lived and loved the Watermelontini, Appletini many years back, and today an Espressotini is one of my favorites.  However, a real martini does not contain anything other than gin or vodka, and even the vermouth is questionable. Here are some other variations and riffs on the classic martini that would still qualify.

Classic Gin Martini

• 3 ounces London Dry Gin
• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• Olive garnish

Vodka Martini (Kangaroo)

• 2.5 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
• lemon rind garnish

Dirty Martini

• 3 ounces London Dry gin
• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 1/4 ounce olive brine
• 3 olives garnish

Vesper

• 1.5 ounces London Dry gin
• 1.5 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
• Shaken and strained into a chilled cocktail glass

Allies (1917)

• 1/4 ounce Kümmel
• 1.5 ounce Navy Strength Gin
• 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
• Dirty Martini

Spring Meadow (2026 Ivory Peacock)

Japanese Oyster Martini (2026 Jack Fetterman)

• 1.5 ounces Osteida Oyster Vodka
• 1.5 ounces James Navy Strength Asian Parsnip Gin
• Japanese Umani Bitters
• Molokai Red Sea Salt,
• Seaweed Mist
• Chilled cocktail glass
• Cocktail onion

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