The Best (and Simplest!) Vodka Martinis

My husband is a creature of habit, including his drinking habits. Proof that he has a "usual" cocktail? The kids and I met him for dinner the other night and ordered drinks while we waited for him to arrive, and when the waitress asked if we wanted to order him a cocktail, my 11-y/o daughter piped up with, "Gin martini, very dry, shaken hard, up, with twist of lemon." Yeah. 

I, on the other hand, like to vary my cocktails. Sometimes I'll opt for a bourbon-based cocktail, and now and then a brandy-based one, but generally I stick with some variation of a vodka martini. Now, purists will claim that it's only a martini if it's made with gin and possibly dry vermouth, and garnished with nothing but a lemon twist or an olive. But I'll call almost anything a martini if it's made with mostly vodka and a few splashes of other liqueurs and/or juices. Which means that I have an endless variety of martinis to choose from!

Here is a list of some of my favorites, all of which require basic ingredients that you either already have on hand, or that aren't too expensive to add to your collection or too unusual that they'll just gather dust in your liquor cabinet for years. 

Vodka Gibson

A Gibson is simply a 5:1 ratio of vodka (or gin) to dry vermouth, garnished with a cocktail onion or two. Feel free to tweak the ratio to suit your taste. Because of its light taste, I prefer my Gibson to be very well chilled, so I often let the vodka and vermouth sit in the shaker with the ice for a few minutes and shake quite hard before pouring, and always serve it in a chilled glass. 

The Great Santini

I invented this one myself (and came up with the name myself, as well), and it's become quite a favorite. Simply add a splash of triple sec to the vodka then add a few dashes of orange bitters and a few of chocolate bitters. I prefer it ungarnished, but feel free to add a bit of orange peel if you like. You can even flame the orange peel if you're feeling fancy. (See this page for an explanation of how to flame the peel.) 

Lemon Drop

There are literally dozens of ways to make a lemon drop martini, but my favorite is one of the easiest: Add a generous splash of triple sec (or Cointreau, or limoncello, or any citrus liqueur you have on hand) and a generous splash of lemon juice to your vodka. This results in a rather tart cocktail, so if you like it sweeter, skip the lemon juice and add a teaspoon or two of powdered lemonade mix instead. Adding a sugared rim and a lemon twist garnish is also a nice touch. 

Note: This is a good recipe to experiment with using flavored vodkas, such as pear, vanilla, or coconut.

Cranberry Kiss

I often serve this cocktail at Christmas, because it's so festive-looking, but it's a cheery and easy cocktail for any time of year. Simply add a splash of cranberry juice and a splash of amaretto to your vodka. If you want to get really fancy, you can add a splash of triple sec as well. Garnish with an orange wedge or peel or a few fresh cranberries. 

Black and White

If you like chocolate cocktails but don't want an overly sweet or rich cocktail, try adding a splash of Tuaca and a generous splash of creme de cacao (light or dark) to your vodka. Serve without a garnish or toss a few cocoa nibs or chocolate shavings on top. 

Wet and Wild Martini

The drier a martini is, the less vermouth it has. For a "very, very dry" martini, the bartender may swirl a few drops of vermouth in the glass, or omit the vermouth altogether. I prefer a "wet" martini when I opt for a "true martini," with a ratio of about 3:1 vodka to vermouth. The bog standard also adds a dash of Angostura bitters, but I like to use orange bitters instead (that's what makes it "wild," WOO!!). Garnish with a twist of lemon (or an olive, if that's how you roll).

Kamikaze Martini

Very similar to the shot of the same name, a Kamikaze adds a generous splash each of triple sec and lime juice to the vodka. Garnish with a wedge or twist of lime. This is another one that's especially delicious when served well-chilled.

Cider Martini

There are plenty of more complicated (but still delicious) cider martini recipes out there that call for various combinations of triple sec, lemon juice, maple syrup, honey, caramel syrup, cinnamon schnapps, etc. But just adding a big dollop of cider to your vodka is fresh and delicious without adding anything else, except maybe an apple slice and a little sprinkle of cinnamon to garnish. 

Razztini

A French martini adds Chambord and pineapple juice, but this simpler raspberry martini omits the juice so you only need to add a splash of whatever raspberry liqueur you have on hand. Garnish with fresh raspberries if you have them, or a lemon twist if you don't.

The bottom line is really that you can add a splash of whatever you want to make a flavored martini! And if you like "true" martinis, experiment with the ratio of vodka to vermouth and try using different types of bitters. You're only limited by your imagination and your taste buds!

Slainte!