Martini glass with splashing olives. High contrast with hard lighting.
Food - Drink
The Way To Order A Martini At The Bar Like A Total Pro
By MICHELLE WELSCH
Martini cocktail with olive
Although martinis are a classic cocktail, they're also customizable, so ordering one isn’t exactly simple. There are a few terms to learn before you can order the drink like a pro.
Front view of Martini Glass with olives on black background
The first hurdle is to decide whether you’d like a gin or vodka martini. Then, specify the amount of vermouth you’d like by asking for the martini "dry," "wet," or "perfect."
Bottle of Martini Bianco Vermouth being poured into a tipped martini glass with a lime garnish
"Dry" refers to a martini with little vermouth, while a wet martini has a standard amount of vermouth. "Perfect" has a 50-50 ratio of vermouth and either gin or vodka.
Dirty martini cocktail closeup in back light with olives garnish on green textured table closeup with plate with olives in background
After you’ve specified your ratio preferences, you can think about ordering a dirty or extra-dirty martini, which incorporates varying amounts of olive brine into the drink.
Close up of a vodka martini cocktail with ice cubes and a slice of lime
Lastly, unleash your inner James Bond and say whether you’d like your drink shaken or stirred. You might even be able to choose a garnish of a lemon peel, pickled onion, or olive.