Today’s martini, popularized by James Bond, is frequently a shaken cocktail made with vodka (and sometimes olive juice). Vermouth, a traditional – and integral – ingredient, is often completely omitted. No offense to 007, but we love sipping a martini made the way bartenders prepared it more than a century ago: In a pint glass or shaker filled with ice, combine 2 ounces gin, 1 ounce dry vermouth and 2 dashes orange bitters. Stir, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a generous lemon twist. Now that’s a martini.
This article appears in January 2015.
