Dry Martini cocktail in a martini glass or coupe

Cocktail · Gin Cocktails

Dry Martini Recipe

Name: Dry Martini
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 60 ml London dry gin; 10 ml Dry vermouth; 1 dash Orange bitters; 1 Green olive or lemon twist

Gin and dry vermouth, stirred ice cold. Olive or twist.

London dry gin

Base Spirit

~30%

Approx ABV

Medium

Difficulty

3 min

Prep Time

🥂 Martini glass or coupe 🧊 None, served up Dry, crisp, boozy

The Dry Martini is gin and dry vermouth stirred with ice, strained into a chilled glass and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. It is the strongest and simplest of the classic cocktails, and small changes in ratio, temperature and garnish change it completely.

Ingredients

Makes

60 ml London dry gin
10 ml Dry vermouth
1 dash Orange bitters (optional)
1 Green olive or lemon twist For the garnish

Garnish: Green olive or lemon twist

How to Make a Dry Martini

Chill a martini glass or coupe in the freezer.
Add the gin, dry vermouth and bitters to a mixing glass.
Fill with ice and stir for 30 seconds until very cold.
Strain into the chilled glass.
Garnish with a green olive on a pick, or a lemon twist expressed over the top.

Best Bottles for a Dry Martini in India

Top pick

Tanqueray London Dry Gin

From ₹1,530 · ★ 8.5/10
Juniper-led, the benchmark Martini gin

Alternative

Bombay Sapphire Gin

From ₹2,125 · ★ 8.3/10
Lighter and more floral

Budget

Gordon's London Dry Gin

From ₹1,215 · ★ 7.1/10
Classic juniper at a low price

Premium

Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin

From ₹2,720 · ★ 8.3/10
Himalayan juniper for a bold, earthy Martini

Alternative

Grey Goose Vodka

From ₹3,500 · ★ 8.2/10
For a Vodka Martini

Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.

Tips for a Better Dry Martini

Cold is everything. Keep the glass in the freezer and stir for a full 30 seconds.
Vermouth is a wine. Keep it in the fridge and replace it after about a month.
Stir, do not shake. Shaking adds air and ice chips that cloud the drink and thin its texture.

About the Dry Martini

The Martini evolved in the United States in the late 1800s from the Martinez, a sweeter mix of Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino and bitters. Two popular stories, that it was invented in Martinez, California, or by a bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York around 1911, are both unproven. Recipes for a gin and vermouth "Martini" were already in print in the 1880s.

The drink grew drier with every decade. Early versions used equal parts gin and vermouth. By the 1950s a ratio of 5:1 or more was standard, and drinkers joked about merely glancing at the vermouth bottle. Vodka versions took over from the 1960s, helped by James Bond.

The Martini has returned strongly in the 2020s. Dirty Martinis, freezer Martinis and half-size "mini" Martinis are among the most visible bar trends in New York, London and Sydney.

Dry Martini Variations

Dirty Martini: add 10 to 15ml of olive brine.
Vodka Martini: vodka in place of gin.
Wet Martini: a 3:1 ratio of gin to vermouth.
50-50 Martini: equal parts gin and dry vermouth with orange bitters.
Gibson: a cocktail onion in place of the olive.
Vesper: gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc, shaken, from Ian Fleming's Casino Royale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Dry Martini?

A Dry Martini is made with 60ml (2 oz) London dry gin, 10ml (2 tsp) dry vermouth and an optional dash of orange bitters. It is served in a martini glass or coupe.

How strong is a Dry Martini?

Made to this recipe, a Dry Martini is about 30% ABV and contains roughly 22 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.6 US standard drinks, 2.2 Australian standard drinks or 2.8 UK units. It has around 160 calories per serving.

What is the ratio for a Dry Martini?

A modern Dry Martini is 5 or 6 parts gin to 1 part dry vermouth. This recipe uses 60ml (2 oz) gin and 10ml (2 tsp) vermouth. A wet Martini is 3:1, and an extra dry one uses only a rinse of vermouth.

Should a Martini be shaken or stirred?

Stirred. A Martini contains only spirits, and stirring keeps it clear and silky. Shaking, as James Bond orders it, makes the drink colder but cloudy and more diluted.

What is a Dirty Martini?

A Dirty Martini adds olive brine, usually 10 to 15ml, which makes the drink salty and savoury. A "filthy" Martini has even more brine.

Is a Martini made with gin or vodka?

Gin is the original and gives juniper and botanical flavour. Vodka makes a cleaner, more neutral drink. Ask for a Vodka Martini if that is what you want.

What does dry mean in a Dry Martini?

It refers to dry (white, unsweetened) vermouth, and in modern use it also means using less of it.

Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma

I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.

Last updated: October 2026