These Christmas Martini Recipes Will Up Your Holiday Celebration (2024)

FAQs

What is an up martini? ›

“Up” means that the drink has been strained into a co*cktail glass without ice. Martinis are almost always served up, so you generally don't need to specify this in your order. Wet. A Wet Martini is heavier on the dry vermouth, meaning your bartender may bump the vermouth up by half an ounce or more.

In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the gin, dry vermouth, and olive juice. Stir well for at least 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled co*cktail glass.

Gin

Martini / Main alcohol

Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink flavoured with juniper berries and other botanical ingredients. Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe.

Wikipedia

The ratio is negotiable, but common formulas for a Dry Martini typically fall in the range of four-to-eight parts gin to one part vermouth. A dash of orange bitters ties the room together. Despite the exacting demands of a certain fictional British spy, the Martini is meant to be stirred, not shaken.

The term “up” refers to any drink that is shaken, stirred, or combined with ice and therefore chilled, but it is served without ice. This is different from ordering a whiskey “neat”.

The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of co*cktail olives, has been added to the drink. An olive garnish is typically assumed, too. Most bars add equal parts vermouth and brine, though you can specify 'extra dirty' or 'filthy' if you prefer more brine.

A gin martini is generally more botanical in flavor, while often vodka lends the co*cktail a smoother, cleaner taste. When you add olive juice to the mix, a dirty gin martini tends to be more complex in flavor, whereas dirty vodka martinis often have a more one-note olive flavor. It's up to you which is best!

Sweet Vermouth was initially used as a co*cktail ingredient to lower the overall alcohol content of a co*cktail with a strong spirit as their base, but Vermouth also adds a mellow herbal flavour and aroma to your drink. Vermouth is actually a type of fortified wine flavoured with various botanicals.

There is one other way to drink a martini without vermouth, and that's to just drop it entirely with no replacement. It's called the Churchill martini, which Drizly notes was named after Winston Churchill's purported preference for nothing but gin stirred with ice and an olive.

Once you have consumed two, you must move on to a soft drink, such as wine or a gin and tonic. The reasons for this are obvious and I try to adhere to this rule at home. The rule is defended most enduringly (and elegantly) at Duke's Bar in Central London, where years of experience … Continue reading.

What is a good martini for beginners? ›

Presenting the $100 martini. Originally created at El Gaucho Tacoma, it is now only served here in Seattle. This exceptional libation features Beluga Gold Line Vodka, Hennessy Paradis Imperial Cognac, Grand Marnier 100, garnished with orange twist.

The Most Popular Martini Flavor in the U.S.

Pineapple martinis are sweet, delicious, and straightforward, making them a popular choice among patrons all over the nation. All you need to make one of these martinis for yourself is pineapple juice, vodka, and fresh-squeezed lime juice.

Vermouths like Martini are fortified wines that oxidise quickly so once opened, store in the fridge and drink within a maximum of three months but ideally finish it within the first month. After that point, there will be no harmful effects to you, but the taste will be pretty nasty.

If the vodka were diluted with ice, it would technically be up. If, however, the bottle of vodka itself was chilled and no ice was added, it would be neat. As mentioned, straight also can refer to a pure pour of a shot of liquor. This can be tequila, vodka, whiskey, or even rum.

All vodka martini co*cktails should be served “straight up” because that term simply describes co*cktails that are shaken or stirred with ice, then strained. A martini co*cktail “up” basically means the same thing — served cold without the ice — although this term is typically reserved for single liquors, not co*cktails.

Neat refers to a shot of liquor, generally scotch or bourbon, poured straight from the bottle into a glass with no ice or water and served at room temperature. Up involves a drink that is shaken or stirred and then served as is, no ice or water.