How to Make a Gin martini
Who said you need to go to the bar to get a great drink? With the right ingredients, you can craft the perfect gin martini at home that rivals, or even outshines, the one at your local lounge.
By Christine LocontiOct. 10 2025, Published 4:37 p.m. ET
At its core, a martini is a timeless cocktail made from a combination of gin and vermouth. However, the term martini has expanded to an umbrella for a variety of cocktails with vodka or gin, and a number of flavors and garnishes.
To keep it real, we're going with the tried and true version today: the classic gin martini. Grab your shaker and let's make a cocktail worthy of the name.
What You'll Need
To make a proper martini, you'll need a few staples. Once you have the equipment, you can enjoy handcrafted martinis again and again.
- Your favorite gin
- Dry vermouth
- Martini glass
- Lemon peel or olives
- Ice cubes
- A jigger to measure the liquor
- Cocktail shaker
How to Make a Gin Martini, Step by Step
Before you start, give your gin, vermouth, and martini glass a nice chill by putting them in the freezer. The secret to an excellent martini is that it's served ice cold. If you don't have time to freeze, adding extra ice cubes to the shaker should do the trick.
Next, follow these foolproof steps for the flawless gin martini:
- Add ice cubes to the metal cup of your cocktail shaker.
- Pour two ounces of gin and half an ounce of vermouth into the shaker. Stirring gently is preferred as shaking can dilute the botanicals and affect the overall flavor.
- Get your glass from the freezer and rub the lemon peel around the rim. You can drop it in the glass after or add olives, up to you.
- Strain the martini into the glass and enjoy your delicious, handcrafted cocktail.
