Martini Style Drink Collection

Martini recipes are everywhere, and they come in a variety of flavors. Yet, it's important to remember that there is the martini, and then there are martinis. Quite often, the latter has little or no resemblance to the original other than the serving glass.

The classic gin martini will always remain a favorite for many drinkers. It was the love for this drink (and its equally timeless cousins like the Manhattan) that spurred an entire movement—a separate martini culture within the broader cocktail scene. The martini has evolved into a style of drink: Fancy, short drinks served in cocktail glasses that are often strong. Modern martini menus are filled with almost every flavor imaginable— from apples to chocolate and coffee to spices—and they're a lot of fun to explore.

Dry Gin Martini: There's no better way to kick off a martini recipe collection than with the martini. Made of gin and dry vermouth with an optional dash of bitters, the gin martini has an iconic taste marked with a dry botanical flavor profile. There is much debate among connoisseurs about the ratio, style of gin (or vodka), and garnish that is the best. And yet, most will agree that it is one of the best cocktails ever created.

There's a special vocabulary in the martini world: Ironically, "dry" means less dry vermouth, and "perfect" means the drink includes equal parts of dry and sweet vermouth. The perfect martini is the gin-based version of this, though you can also make a perfect vodka martini or perfect Manhattan with whiskey.

When you hear someone talk about a "dirty" martini, it's time to break out the olives. Featuring dry vermouth, you can make it with gin or vodka, and it even works with tequila. Use the brine from the olive jar, make your own, or pick up one of the olive juice options specifically designed for this cocktail. The options are numerous, and it's a fantastic savory cocktail anyway you make it.

Recipe for Martinis

Martinez: According to cocktail history, the Martinez was most likely created before the martini. First printed in the 1887 edition of "The Bon Vivant's Companion: Or How to Mix Drinks" by "Professor" Jerry Thomas, this is a very old drink recipe. It has a gin base but is slightly sweeter than the martini, thanks to the combination of sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur. Add aromatic bitters and a lemon twist, and you're ready to enjoy this enduring tipple.

Recipe for Martinez

Manhattan: Whiskey's answer to the martini, the Manhattan is equally simple, satisfying, and versatile (with nearly as many variations created over the years). Rather than dry vermouth, this recipe prefers sweet vermouth. You can make it with any style of whiskey you like. Rye whiskey is the classic choice, while Canadian and bourbon whiskeys were more common during the mid-20th century.

The Affinity Cocktail is one of several classic recipes that use the double vermouth pairing without the "perfect" moniker. In the Manhattan family, it specifically calls for Scotch whisky and orange bitters. Like its dry vermouth-only companion, the Rob Roy, the affinity is best with either a blended scotch or one of the mellower single malts. Avoid whiskies that are heavily peated or very smoky to maintain a balanced drink.

Recipe for Manhattan

Vodka Martini: Clean and crisp, the vodka martini is a 20th-century classic. Originally, it went by "kangaroo," but that name didn't last long. It's really nothing more than a martini that replaces the gin with vodka, though it's less aromatic, and that appeals to many drinkers. The same options as to how dry to make it and whether to include a lemon twist or olive garnish apply. If you prefer to shake rather than stir, it's also the better choice of the two cocktails.

Recipe for Martinis

Jean Harlow Cocktail: Rum has a place in the martini world, too! The Jean Harlow cocktail is, essentially, a rum Manhattan. It follows the "keep-it-simple" theory common in classic drinks by combining rum and sweet vermouth. Light rum is the traditional choice, though a really nice aged rum makes a great alternative.

Recipe for Jean Harlow Cocktail

Tequini: The variety in tequila styles ensures that there's a martini for everyone's taste. On the drier side, the tequini uses dry vermouth, and an unaged blanco tequila is preferred. For more of a Manhattan-style cocktail, switch to an aged reposado or añejo tequila and sweet vermouth, and you'll have a Spanish Harlem.

Chrysanthemum: In the classic cocktail scene, brandy was king. It's lost some of its appeal among modern drinkers, though the old-fashioned cocktails continue to impress. One can't-miss mix is the chrysanthemum. It pairs brandy and dry vermouth with a hint of absinthe for a delightful kick that only the anise-flavored spirit can provide. For whiskey drinkers, the Waldorf cocktail uses an absinthe rinse with a combination of rye whiskey and sweet vermouth.

Fruity, Sour and Sweet Martinis

Cosmopolitan: When transitioning from dry to fruity martinis, one cocktail reigns supreme. The cosmopolitan is an icon of the modern martini bar, mixing vodka (often citrus) and Cointreau with lime and cranberry juices. While it has a reputation for being sweet, if you back off the cranberry a bit, it's actually pleasantly dry.

Recipe for Cosmopolitan

Gimlet: A number of sour drinks are classified with martinis because they appear so often on modern cocktail menus alongside their drier counterparts. Among the "up" drinks that are a must for gin lovers is the gimlet. It simply combines gin and lime cordial—a sweetened lime juice—to create a snappy cocktail.

Recipe for Gimlet

Kamikaze Cocktail: If vodka is your preference, mix it with lime and triple sec to create the kamikaze cocktail. A staple on today's cocktail menus, it's said to have been invented sometime after World War II, though it really found fame in discos during the '70s. No matter its origins, it is a fun drink that's easy to mix up and best with fresh-squeezed lime juice.

Bees Knees: Sweeping back to Prohibition and switching to lemon juice, this cocktail really is the bee's knees. Using honey syrup as a sweetener, it's thought that the sweet-sour drink was created to mask the aroma and taste of "bathtub" gin that was common during the speakeasy days. While there's no need to disguise today's array of fantastic gins, the recipe remains a hit.

Peartini: The Peartini is a simple and sweet cocktail that combines the flavor of pears with a little spice. It's a fun flavor for a martini and a perfect excuse to pick up a bottle of pear vodka (or make your own). The spiced syrup uses classic wintertime spices like clove, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla, and orange. Brown sugar is the sweetener and gives it a rich base. This combination makes it a great drink to enjoy during the holidays. If you like, use an unflavored simple syrup and enjoy the drink year-round.

Recipe for Peartini