First, gin. London Dry is the classic choice. Think Beefeater, Tanqueray, or Plymouth.
Second, dry vermouth. This is the wine that whispers, not shouts. No sugary trash. Get a good French one like Noilly Prat.
Third, ice. Lots of it. Cold, clear cubes are your best friends. They do the hard work for you.
Fourth, a garnish. An olive or a lemon twist. This is your personality on a toothpick.
The Cold, Hard Science of the Stir
You do not shake a gin martini. That’s for fruity cocktails. Shaking bruises the gin and makes it cloudy.
You stir. Gently. For a solid 30 seconds. The ice melts just enough to bring the drink to life.
Fun fact: James Bond ordered them “shaken, not stirred” because he was a spy with terrible taste in mixology. Seriously. He was wrong.
Stirring keeps the silky texture. It’s like a whisper versus a shout. Classy wins.