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

Should a martini be shaken or stirred? did James Bond get it right?

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

• Chill your martini glass.
• Once chilled pour your vermouth into the glass, coat the inside then discard.
• In a metal shaker add large ice cubes, then gin.
• Stir briskly for 15 seconds.
• Double strain into your glass
• Garnish and enjoy.

How to Make a Dry Martini Shaken, not Stirred

• Chill the martini glass.
• In a metal shaker add ice, then gin.
• Show the shaker there is a bottle of vermouth nearby.
• Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
• Double strain into your glass. Garnish with lemon swath.

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

Bottoms up.

Josh

After some snacks to enjoy with your Martini?

Teriyaki Chicken Wings – finger-licking goodness
Potato Skin Chips – super tasty and fighting the war on waste
Green Tomato Fritters – a southern twist on domatokeftedes

Martini Recipes

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Author: Joshua McCleary

Servings: 4 martinis

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

The original classic stirred martini recipe, plus our shaken dry martini recipe

Ingredients

Classic Stirred Martini

• 1 oz (30 ml) Dry vermouth
• 4 oz (120 ml) gin - 94-proof
• 1-2 Olive - for garnish

Dry Martini Shaken

• dry vermouth
• 120 ml (4 oz) gin
• lemon swath, twisted

Instructions

Classic Stirred Martini

• Chill your martini glass.
• Once chilled pour your vermouth into the glass, coat the inside then discard.
• In a metal shaker add large ice cubes, then gin.
• Stir briskly for 15 seconds.
• Double strain into your glass
• Garnish and enjoy.

Dry Martini Shaken

• Chill the martini glass.
• In a metal shaker add ice, then gin.
• Show the shaker there is a bottle of vermouth nearby.
• Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
• Double strain into your glass. Garnish with lemon swath.

Notes

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. 

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 16mg | Sugar: 1g

Keyword: do you serve a martini with olive or lemon, how to make a dry martini, should you shake or stir a martini

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