How To Order A Martini Like You Know What You're Doing

At its core, the martini is a simple two-ingredient cocktail of gin or vodka and vermouth. For many, it has come to represent the pinnacle of sophistication. It's also perhaps the only cocktail that has led to so many arguments about how it should be made. It doesn't help that there's a long list of terms concerning the martini, its ingredients, and the drink's many variations. 

With all the baggage the martini carries, it's no surprise newbies can get sweaty palms just thinking about ordering one. Because this cocktail has so many variations, you may first wish to explore the martini's various ratios, ingredients, and garnishes at home. That way, you'll have a better handle on what best suits your personal tastes before bellying up to a bar.

When you do order a martini while out, the first thing your bartender will surely want to know is whether you want gin or vodka. The next choice is whether you want your martini dry or wet (the former has less vermouth than the latter). At that point, you may be ready for some fancier terms. An extra dry martini typically means the bartender will swirl a bit of vermouth in the glass before dumping it out and adding gin and any other requested ingredients. Ordering a 50:50 or perfect martini will get you one that's made with equal parts gin or vodka and vermouth. An upside-down martini reverses the ratios to five parts vermouth and one part gin or vodka.

Your bartender is likely also going to ask if you want your martini shaken or stirred. Aficionados claim that stirring is the only proper way to make a martini, since shaking can leave the cocktail cloudy and watered down. From there, there's a long list of ways you can order this cocktail that mainly involve different extra ingredients and garnishes. For instance, a dirty martini includes olive brine, which puts the filth in the dirty martini, giving you a burst of salty umami flavor. If you like citrus, ask the bartender for a dash of orange bitters for a throwback version of the original martini. If you're looking for a bit of smoky flavor, ask for a burnt martini, which has a splash of peaty Scotch.

As for garnishes, the default is cocktail olives but you can instead ask for a twist. This is a piece of citrus peel, traditionally from a lemon, that the bartender literally twists above the drink, releasing the citrus's oils for a pop of extra aroma. If you're looking for a more unusual garnish, order a Gibson martini, which comes with a small pickled onion. Ultimately, don't be afraid to ask your bartender questions or order your martini exactly how you prefer (I unashamedly like mine with both olives and a twist).