9 Martinis to Enjoy at Home

A classic Martini is a cocktail consisting of gin and vermouth, served ice-cold and garnished with anything from olives or a twist of lemon (which cocktail experts call “with a twist). While the classic ratio is three parts gin to one part vermouth, there are many different variations on this timeless pre-dinner drink.

You can swap the gin for vodka or make the cocktail dry (so it only includes a small amount of vermouth). Cocktail drinkers typically enjoy Martinis made with dry vermouth rather than sweet vermouth, but it is possible to make a sweet spin on the classic cocktail using the latter.

Traditionalists and adventurous cocktail aficionados alike have a world of possibilities open to them when it comes to how they enjoy a Martini. Here are popular types of Martinis that you can mix up at home, from classic to creative options.

1. 1. Gin Martini: This popular and timeless iteration consists of just two ingredients: gin and vermouth (with the occasional addition of bitters, like orange bitters). Bartenders prepare classic Martinis in various ways: a straight-up Martini (in a chilled martini glass without ice), on the rocks Martini (with ice in a rocks glass), shaken Martini (prepared in a cocktail shaker with ice), and a stirred Martini (chilled by stirring it in a mixing glass). The most traditional way to garnish a classic Martini is with a green olive or a “lemon twist” (a curled lemon peel).
2. 2. Vodka Martini: This variation calls for vermouth and vodka rather than gin. Cocktail fans can enjoy both Gin and Vodka Martinis dry by using less vermouth than the traditional recipe calls for(with only enough to coat the inside of the glass). There’s also the Dirty Martini, which calls for a splash of olive brine added to the liquid to up the brininess. Or, you can request a “50-50” Martini, which calls for equal parts gin or vodka and dry vermouth.
3. 3. Cosmopolitan: The Cosmopolitan—or the Cosmo—is a Martini-inspired vodka cocktail that cocktail drinkers usually enjoy in a chilled cocktail glass. A Cosmo features orange liqueur like triple sec or Cointreau, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice or blood orange juice in addition to vodka. It’s similar to a Kamikaze—equal parts vodka, lime, and triple sec—but with a signature ruby-red cranberry hue. Add extra sweet and tart notes with a splash of raspberry liqueur.
4. 4. Espresso Martini: Diners often enjoy this sweet Martini cocktail as an after-dinner drink. Espresso martinis have robust coffee flavors due to vanilla vodka, espresso, and a coffee liqueur. Another popular alternative dessert Martini option is a Chocolate Martini, which calls for a chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, half and half, and vodka.
5. 5. Gibson: This subtle variation on the classic Martini swaps the typical olive garnish for a single cocktail onion.
6. 6. Lychee Martini: This cocktail calls for sweet lychee fruit, typically featuring a single fresh lychee as a garnish. There are a few different ways to add fruit flavor to a Lychee Martini, and some cocktail recipes rely on more than one method. Other popular fruity spins on the classic cocktail include the Pomegranate Martini and Lemon Drop Martini (made with fresh lemon juice, triple sec, and simple syrup).
7. 7. Perfect Martini: This Gin Martini calls for equal parts dry and sweet vermouth. If a Martini is perfect, it features half an ounce of both dry and sweet vermouth in addition to three ounces of gin.
8. 8. Reverse Martini: Also known as a Wet Martini, this cocktail flips the typical gin-to-vermouth ratio, using three ounces of vermouth to one ounce of dry gin for something closer to an apéritif.
9. 9. Vesper Martini: This French Martini features both vodka and gin and calls for a splash of fruity, aromatic Lillet blanc—a French apéritif—in place of the vermouth. Cocktail drinkers often enjoy a Vesper Martini shaken in a cocktail shaker over ice and garnished with a lemon peel to complement the citrusy Lillet.

Learn more about mixology from award-winning bartenders Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana. Refine your palate, explore the world of spirits, and shake up the perfect cocktail for your next gathering with the MasterClass Annual Membership.