🍸 Classic & Dirty Martini

An elegant, timeless cocktail built on simplicity and balance. The martini highlights the spirit preferably a bold, aromatic gin like Monkey 47 and can be tailored from clean and crisp to rich and savory with olive brine.

Ingredients

Classic Martini

Dirty Martini Variations

  • Slightly Dirty: 2.75 oz spirit + 0.25 oz olive juice

  • Standard Dirty: 2.5 oz spirit of choice + 0.5 oz olive juice

  • Filthy Martini: 2 oz spirit + 1 oz olive juice

Instructions

Classic Martini

  1. Add gin to a mixing glass filled with ice.

  2. Stir gently for 30–35 seconds.

  3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

  4. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives.

Dirty Martini

  1. Add the chosen spirit and olive juice (see ratios above) to a shaker with ice.

  2. Shake for 12–15 seconds.

  3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

  4. Garnish with olives.

🥂 Shaking vs Stirring Cocktails

Shaking

  • When to shake: Use when the recipe includes juice or eggs — anything needing vigorous mixing and aeration.

  • Purpose: Fully incorporates ingredients, chills quickly, dilutes, and creates texture (froth/cloudiness).

  • Examples: Margarita, Daiquiri, Whiskey Sour, Espresso Martini.

Stirring

  • When to stir: Use when the cocktail is made entirely of spirits/liqueurs and bitters.

  • Purpose: Gently chills and dilutes without aerating, keeping the drink crystal-clear and silky.

  • Examples: Martini, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Negroni.

Rule of Thumb

👉 If the cocktail has juice (or anything that needs aeration), shake it. If it’s all spirits, stir it.