Should a Martini be Shaken or Stirred? Was 007 wrong?

HAPPY MARTINI DAY! To celebrate this martini day I’ll be serving up the history along with two recipes for this iconic classic cocktail.  Plus answer the question, should a martini be shaken or stirred?

In 1911, a New York City bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia began serving a cocktail made with gin, vermouth, orange bitters, and an olive garnish.  Not that anyone agrees with this.  In 1887 in San Francisco, a bartering manual appears to have the first printed recipe for a “Martinez”.  A similar recipe that involves gin, sweet vermouth, Luxardo maraschino liqueur (a type of cherry liqueur) and Angostura bitters.

Should a martini be shaken or stirred?

A Martini is classic, elegant cocktail, and a favourite of the fictional 007, James Bond, which only boosted it’s popularity. One thing always bothered me about James, why does he ask for shaken and not stirred martini?  Should a martini be shaken or stirred?  Apparently James, you have been drinking it wrong all your life because ideally it should be stirred not shaken.

Why stirred? A martini needs to be ice cold, but by shaking it with ice it adds tiny ice particles to the final cocktail.  This dilutes the martini and makes it cloudy. While stirring with large ice cubes makes it as cold, not diluted and is crystal clear.  To be honest, it is easier on the bartenders arms as well.

How to make a classic martini

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Classic Martini

Classic Martini Recipes – Should a martini be served shaken or stirred? Has James Bond been getting it right all these years??

Ingredients

• 1 oz (30ml) dry vermouth
• 4 oz (120ml gin 94-proof
• 1 martini glass
• Olive to garnish

Instructions

1. Chill your martini glass.
2. Pour your vermouth into the glass, coat the inside then discard.
3. In a metal shaker add large ice cubes, then gin.
4. Stir briskly for 15 seconds.
5. Double strain into your glass
6. Garnish and enjoy.

How to make a martini our way

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In house style Martini

Our classic in house shaken martini recipe.

Ingredients

• Bottle of dry vermouth
• 4 oz (120ml) gin 94-proof
• Martini glass
• Swath of lemon twisted

Instructions

1. Chill your glass.
2. In a metal shaker add ice, then gin.
3. Show the shaker there is a bottle of vermouth nearby.
4. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
5. Double strain into your glass.
6. Garnish and enjoy.

There you have two martini recipes and a little history this Martini day.

Bottoms up.

Josh