To make a classic martini, combine 2 ounces of gin (or vodka if preferred) with 1 ounce of dry vermouth. Stir the mixture with ice in a mixing glass for about 30 seconds until very cold. Strain it into a chilled martini glass and garnish with either a lemon twist or olives. For a dirty martini, add 1 to 3 teaspoons of olive brine before stirring.

Classic Martini Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin or vodka
• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 1 to 3 teaspoons olive brine (optional, for a dirty martini)
• Garnish: lemon twist or 2 cocktail olives

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass by filling it with ice and water.
2. In a mixing glass with ice, pour gin (or vodka), vermouth, and olive brine if making it dirty.
3. Stir well for about 30 seconds until ice cold.
4. Discard the ice and water from your martini glass.
5. Strain the cocktail into the chilled glass.
6. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives and enjoy.

Additional Tips

• To make a drier martini, reduce the vermouth to half an ounce.
• Use high-quality gin or vodka for best results.
• Vermouth adds complexity and should not be omitted entirely for a true martini.
• Stirring (not shaking) preserves the gin's flavors, but some prefer shaking especially for vodka martinis.

This is a timeless and customizable cocktail with variations like the "dirty martini" (with olive brine) and "perfect martini" (mixing sweet and dry vermouth) for added flavor profiles.