Martini 101: Gin or Vodka, Shaken or Stirred
No cocktail argument runs hotter than the Martini — and most of it comes down to two questions: gin or vodka, and shaken or stirred.
TL;DR:
Gin or vodka: gin is the classic (dry vermouth), vodka is cleaner and more neutral — neither is “wrong,” just different drinks sharing a glass.
Shaken or stirred: most bartenders stir a gin Martini and shake a vodka one — shaking bruises gin’s botanicals and dilutes or clouds it.
Dry vs. wet is just vermouth ratio — anywhere from 2:1 to 5:1, entirely personal taste, no universal right answer.
Our pick: V-Shaped Martini Glass (“V-Tini”), 12oz — $19.99. Wide shallow bowl keeps it cold and lets you smell the vermouth and garnish.
Gin or vodka
The original Martini is gin and dry vermouth — that's the classic. Vodka came later, and it makes a cleaner, more neutral drink that leans entirely on the vermouth and garnish for character. Neither is "wrong"; they're genuinely different drinks that happen to share a glass. If you like gin's botanicals, start there. If you want something quieter, vodka's the move.
Shaken or stirred
James Bond made "shaken, not stirred" famous, but most bartenders stir a gin Martini and only shake a vodka one. Shaking a drink with only spirit and vermouth — no juice, no sugar — bruises gin's more delicate botanicals and packs the drink with tiny ice shards that dilute it faster and cloud it slightly. Stirring keeps a gin Martini clear and a little silkier. Vodka has less to bruise, so the extra dilution and chill from shaking bothers people less.
The ratio is yours to set
"Dry" means less vermouth, "wet" means more. A classic ratio runs anywhere from 2:1 to 5:1 gin-to-vermouth; "extra dry" can mean barely a rinse of vermouth before adding the gin. There's no universal right answer — it's the one lever that's entirely personal taste.
Why the glass matters
A Martini glass's wide, shallow bowl keeps the drink cold without warming it in your hand before you finish it, and it's wide enough to actually smell the vermouth and garnish as you drink. Our V-Shaped Martini Glass ("V-Tini"), 12oz ($19.99) gives it real presence on the bar cart without leaning on tradition alone to do it.
The actual answer
Pick your spirit, pick your ratio, and stir a gin Martini if you want it to stay clear. Everything else is preference.
“Pick your spirit, pick your ratio, and stir a gin Martini if you want it to stay clear.”
FAQ
Gin or vodka — which is the “real” Martini?
Neither. The original Martini is gin and dry vermouth, but vodka became common as bartenders leaned into a cleaner, more neutral drink. Both are correct — they’re just different.
Why do bartenders stir a gin Martini but shake a vodka one?
Shaking bruises gin’s more delicate botanicals and packs the drink with tiny ice shards that dilute it faster and cloud it slightly. Stirring keeps a gin Martini clear and a little silkier. Vodka has less to bruise, so the extra dilution and chill from shaking bothers people less.
What does “dry” vs. “wet” mean?
It’s the vermouth ratio. “Dry” means less vermouth, “wet” means more. A classic ratio runs anywhere from 2:1 to 5:1 gin-to-vermouth; “extra dry” can mean barely a rinse before adding the gin. There’s no universal right answer — it’s the one lever that’s entirely personal taste.
Does the glass actually matter for a Martini?
Yes. A Martini glass’s wide, shallow bowl keeps the drink cold without warming it in your hand, and it’s wide enough to actually smell the vermouth and garnish as you drink. Our V-Shaped Martini Glass (“V-Tini”), 12oz gives it real presence on the bar cart without leaning on tradition alone to do it.
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