Martini Day: How to Make Five Classic Vodka Martinis 

One of the most compelling stories suggests that the Martini was born in Martinez, California, where legend has it the drink was created for a thirsty gold miner heading to San Francisco. The story gains credibility from the drink’s early name – the “Martinez” – though it wasn’t until the latter half of the 1880s that it became known as the Martini. A great story, but like every other theory about the Martini’s origins, it remains unverified.

How Do You Take Your Martini?

Wet or dry. Dirty or naked. With an olive, a pickled onion or a twist of lemon zest. The Martini is one of the few cocktails that says as much about the person drinking it as it does about the drink itself.

If you already know how you take yours, you’re in good company. But if you’re still figuring it out, you’re in the right place.

Here are five iconic Vodka Martinis to get you started!

1. Naked Martini  

The Naked Martini reduces everything to the bare essentials. Chilled Absolut Vodka, stirred over ice and strained into a chilled martini glass – no vermouth, no garnish.

With nothing to hide behind, the quality of the vodka is everything. Choose well and the result speaks for itself.  

Check out the recipe for an Absolut Martini.

2. Dry Martini  

The Dry Martini is one of the most iconic cocktails ever made…and for good reason. A Dry Martini combines vodka with just a teeny-tiny splash of vermouth – approximately 5 ml or a teaspoon.

Stir over ice until perfectly cold, strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist or a single olive. Simple, sophisticated and timeless, watch Rico show you how to make a classic Dry Martini:

3. Wet Martini  

The Wet Martini is a more generous take on a Dry Martini – more vermouth, more complexity. Where a Dry Martini is made with just a splash of vermouth, a Wet Martini leans into it, typically following a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of spirit to vermouth.

Stir chilled Absolut Vodka in a mixing glass filled with ice with a generous measure of vermouth, stir until perfectly cold and diluted to preference, then strain into a chilled martini glass.

Finish with a green olive for a savory edge or a lemon zest twist for a brighter, more aromatic serve. It’s up to you – it’s your martini.

4. Gibson Martini   

Made like a Wet Martini but with slightly less vermouth, the Gibson is stirred over ice, strained into a chilled martini glass and finished with a cocktail onion – the single detail that gives this classic its unmistakable identity.

Smooth, crisp and quietly sophisticated, it’s a Martini that proves sometimes the smallest touches make the biggest difference.

5. Dirty Martini 

Order a Martini at a bar and the bartender might ask how dirty you want it. It’s not what you think – they’re asking how much olive brine you’d like in your drink.

A Dirty Martini follows the recipe for a Vodka Martini and adds a splash of olive brine, giving it a savory, salty depth that makes it entirely its own.

Garnish with one olive or three – there are no rules here, only preferences.

Watch Rico show how to make a Vodka Martini:

Happy Martini Day!