Perfect Martini
4.2 96 ratings
Ingredients
How to make
Serve in a martini glass
Prepare
- 1 Select and pre-chill a MARTINI GLASS.
- 2 Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
Method
- 3 STIR all ingredients with ice.
- 4 FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
Garnish
- 5 EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.
Flavour profile
22.9% alc./vol. · 1.5 standard drinks · 160 calories
History
Equal parts gin, rosso vermouth, and dry vermouth create a sherry-like aperitivo. For a spirituous Martini punch, opt for a gin-forward build.
Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book lists a "Medium Martini" which sits between a Dry Martini (gin and dry vermouth) and a Sweet Martini (gin and rosso vermouth). MARTINI (MEDIUM) COCKTAIL. ¼ French Vermouth. ¼ Italian Vermouth. ½ Dry Gin. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. David Embury, in his 1948 book The Fine Art Of Mixing Drinks, also refers to this as a "Medium Martini" and expresses skepticism towards those who call it "Perfect." MEDIUM MARTINI 1 part French Vermouth 1 part Italian Vermouth 2 to 4 parts Gin 1 dash Orange Bitters & 1 dash Angostura to each drink Some recipes specify only orange bitters, while others omit the bitters entirely. This drink is also known as the Perfect. It has been said that the person who named near-beer was a poor judge of distance; similarly, the "Perfect" cocktail was named by someone who was not a good judge of perfection. It is occasionally called the Somerset, and if prepared with equal parts French vermouth, Italian vermouth, and gin, it is known as the Queen.
Also known as Medium Martini, Somerset, the Queen · Created by Harry Craddock