Vodka Martini

While gin martinis date to at least 1883, the vodka martini was “a 1930s experiment,” writes historian David Wondrich in The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails. Traditionalists may scoff at martini recipes with vodka, but other martini drinkers embrace them as one of several variations on the classic cocktail. Members of the drink’s family tree also include the onion-accented Gibson, James Bond’s Vesper, and the resurgent espresso martini.

Like its gin-forward predecessor, the vodka martini cocktail recipe is endlessly customizable. Tweak the ratio of vodka to vermouth for a wet or dry martini; use equal parts vodka and vermouth for a 50-50 vodka martini recipe; or split the dry vermouth half and half with sweet vermouth to make a “perfect martini” with vodka. Try different brands too. The best vodka for martinis depends on personal preferences and how you fix your martini; this is a spirit-forward cocktail recipe, so quality vodka produces the best results. Season the drink with a few dashes of orange bitters and finish with a twist of lemon peel, or add a splash of olive juice to make it a dirty martini—if you go for olive brine, ditch the lemon twist and garnish with fat green olives instead. Serve in a chilled martini glass or coupe.