31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (2024)

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (1)

If you've ever wondered what exactly a martini is, you're not alone. These old-school co*cktails definitely have some mystery to them. Are they pretty much straight liquor in a glass, or a more complicated fruity drink that packs a punch? What exactly was James Bond drinking? Whether you’ve got a fully stocked at-home bar or are looking for inspiration for what to order when you go out, we’ve got some answers (and 31 martini recipes!) for you.

At its most basic, a martini is gin or vodka and dry vermouth in certain proportions (usually 2 ½ oz. alcohol to ½ oz. vermouth), with an olive or lemon peel for garnish. Though it’s a super simple recipe, there are some adjustments you can make. Making a martini “dry” means using less vermouth and more vodka (“wet” means the opposite, though is less popular), and “dirty” adding a splash of olive juice with your olives. “Perfect” means using an equal amount of both, and “neat” means using room temperature ingredients, rather than ones shaken or stirred over ice. No matter which way you go at home, the most important thing is to start with good ingredients, since they’re the stars of the show.

Have some… shall we say, less than desirable vodka or gin? That’s where martini’s sweet alter ego comes in to save the day. More guilty pleasure dessert drinks than liquor-forward sippers, “-tinis” (as they were coined in the ‘90s and 00s), are sweet, often creamy, co*cktails that come in every flavor you can think of. Try our lemon drop or appletini if you like things tart, or our sugar cookie martini or crème brûlée martini if you want something sweeter. Though they might not seem it, these babies are STRONG. Some of them taste like a milkshake, but they all pack a punch, so drink responsibly.

Want more liquor inspiration? Check out our list of our top vodka drinks and bourbon co*cktails. Have more of a sweet tooth? Try our Baileys Irish Creme co*cktails—they’re pretty much dessert in a glass.

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1

Pomegranate Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (3)

More like a cosmopolitan than a classic martini, this recipe replaces the cosmo’s traditional cranberry juice with pomegranate. Garnish with a sugar rim and a fresh rosemary sprig for the perfect drink to serve at all your winter gatherings.

Get the Pomegranate Martini recipe.

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2

Classic Vodka Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (5)

Before you start, make sure your vodka and vermouth are quality—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do. Whether you go shaken or stirred, you'll feel on top of the world after your first sip.

Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.

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3

Espresso Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (7)

Curious how to achieve this impressive garnish? Cover half the glass with a napkin or paper towel then dust the rest with either cocoa or espresso powder. Top the other side with coffee beans and voila! You have a drink that's not only delicious but also looks stunning.

Get the Espresso Martini recipe.

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4

Chocolate Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (9)

We love topping ours with shaved chocolate or a pinch of cocoa powder, but feel free to get creative on the garnishes! Try adding a strawberry or a spring of mint, or even adding crushed Oreos to the rim.

Get the Chocolate Martini recipe.

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5

Crème Brûlée Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (11)

These martinis taste just like a crème brûlée with very little effort. Be sure to keep the caramel in the freezer until you are ready to serve. The caramel will eventually melt into your drink making it extra indulgent.

Get the Crème Brûlée Martini recipe.

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6

Peppermintinis

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (13)

To make these peppermint-bark-inspired drinks, you'll combine white chocolate liqueur, vodka, peppermint schnapps, and heavy cream in a co*cktail shaker with ice, before serving these shaken—not stirred—martinis with a homemade chocolate and peppermint rim. We're feeling festive already!

Get the Peppermintinis recipe.

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7

Appletini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (15)

These babies are tart, bright green, and quite strong. Enjoy with caution 😈.

Get the Best-Ever Appletini recipe.

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8

Dalgona Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (17)

Dalgona, or whipped coffee, is now the coolest thing to top all of your drinks with. Try it on top of this simple Baileys martini for an instant trendy pick me up.

Get the Dalgona Martini recipe.

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9

Pecan Pie Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (19)

Rumchata, creme de cocoa, and bourbon come together to make this drinkable version of pecan pie. These martinis might look cute and innocent, but trust us, they're STRONG.

Get the Pecan Pie Martini recipe.

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10

Sugar Cookie Martinis

Love Christmas sugar cookies? Us too, so we made this festive co*cktail inspired by them. Baileys, vanilla vodka, and Amaretto give it that cookie-vibe, and the tiny candy cane-shaped sugar cookie hanging off the sprinkle-covered rim make it extra adorable—use seasonal favorites to enjoy this year-round!

Get the Sugar Cookie Martinis recipe.

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11

Bikini Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (23)

🎶Put the rum in the coconut and shake it all up 🎶Not a fan of coconut? Regular rum works just fine here too.

Get the Bikini Martini recipe.

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12

Cadbury Creme Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (25)

Cadbury Creme Egg lovers, we made this drink just for you. Not unlike the candy, these martinis are VERY sweet. If you'd like to tone down the sweetness, we'd suggest omitting the sweetened condensed milk. (Even though it looks so darn cute at the bottom of these!)

Get the Cadbury Creme Martini recipe.

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13

Key Lime Pie Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (27)

This co*cktail is modeled after our favorite key lime pie, without any of the hassle of baking! It manages to be both tart and creamy, and is the perfect summer drink.

Get the Key Lime Pie Martini recipe.

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14

Banana Cream Pie Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (29)

Part dessert, part co*cktail, this drink is seriously indulgent. The flavor of banana pudding, one of our very favorite desserts, comes from the combination of vanilla vodka, Baileys, and banana liqueur, and whipped cream. We know it sounds like a lot, but trust us, it's the real deal.

Get the Banana Cream Pie Martini recipe.

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15

S'mores Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (31)

No campfire? No problem! We roasted our marshmallows over our oven burners. It's a totally optional step, but we think it really drives the s'mores flavor home.

Get the S'mores Martini recipe.

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16

Drunken Peanut Butter Cups

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (33)

These martinis use Reese's Pieces to infuse the vodka so that they taste just like your favorite peanut butter cup. This takes a chocolate martini to a whole new level. The Reese's and peanut butter rim isn't technically necessary, but it makes these extra delightful.

Get the Drunken Peanut Butter Cups recipe.

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17

Almond Joy Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (35)

If Almond Joys are your favorite candy bar, then you need to give this martini a try. Coconut rum, chocolate syrup, creme de coconut, Amaretto, and half and half make this super decadent co*cktail fit for dessert.

Get the Almond Joy Martini recipe.

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18

Apple Cider Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (37)

Caramel and cinnamon sugar rim the glass of this apple cider co*cktail. The butterscotch schnapps really puts this over the edge, so we recommend seeking it out!

Get the Apple Cider Martini recipe.

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19

Samoa Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (39)

Arguably the best Girl Scout cookie of all gets a boozy makeover here with this easy and delicious martini. Want even more Samoa flavor? Try our Samoa dessert lasagna or frozen Samoa pie.

Get the Samoa Martini recipe.

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20

Gingerbread Espresso Martini

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (41)

Spice up the espresso martini trend with this gingerbread version that takes the co*cktail to new heights. An aromatic simple syrup made with molasses, ginger, and warming spices is the perfect foil for Kahlúa’s robust coffee flavor. It’s a festive co*cktail guaranteed to give you a pleasant buzz and get you in the holiday spirit.

Get the Gingerbread Espresso Martini recipe.

31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic co*cktail In A Whole New Way (2024)

FAQs

How many types of classic martinis are there? ›

Dry, Perfect, or Wet

A classic martini, or a wet martini, is when you prefer an equal ratio of gin and dry vermouth. A “perfect” martini on the other hand is made with equal parts dry and sweet vermouth and then mixed with vodka or gin.

What's the most popular martini? ›

The Most Popular Martini Flavor in the U.S.

Pineapple martinis are sweet, delicious, and straightforward, making them a popular choice among patrons all over the nation. All you need to make one of these martinis for yourself is pineapple juice, vodka, and fresh-squeezed lime juice.

What is a filthy Dirty Martini? ›

Ordering a Martini “Extra Dirty” or “Filthy” adjusts the co*cktail's recipe to include a higher ratio of salty olive brine in the drink. The Filthy Martini hones in on the olive brine's distinct taste in an otherwise Dirty Martini and turns it up to the max.

What is a martini without vermouth called? ›

Bone Dry. Almost no vermouth is used. “Bone dry” is a common way to specify just a whisper of vermouth. If you are in a bar, ordering an extra dry Martini amounts to the same thing.

Which martini is the original? ›

Another popular theory suggests it evolved from a co*cktail called the Martinez served sometime in the early 1860s at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, which people frequented before taking an evening ferry to the nearby town of Martinez, California.

What are the three types of martini? ›

Dry, Extra Dry, Bone Dry and Wet

The original iteration of drink called for a 2:1 ratio of gin to dry vermouth, however the co*cktail has evolved over many decades (as have people's taste) - and martinis are now more commonly served at a 5:1 or 6:1 ratio.

What kind of martini did the Queen drink? ›

At lunch, the queen used to have a piece of chocolate and a glass of wine after she was done with her meal. The queen also had dry gin martini and this secret was revealed by her cousin Margaret Rhodes. And finally, the queen had her last drink of the day, a glass of champagne before she went to bed.

What is a dirty martini called? ›

The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of co*cktail olives, has been added to the drink. An olive garnish is typically assumed, too. Most bars add equal parts vermouth and brine, though you can specify 'extra dirty' or 'filthy' if you prefer more brine.

What kind of martini does James Bond drink? ›

The Vesper, also known as the Vesper Martini, was invented by author Ian Fleming for his iconic British secret agent, James Bond. The drink first appeared in Fleming's Casino Royale, which was published in 1953, the co*cktail being named for the fictional double agent (and Bond love-interest) Vesper Lynd.

What is a wet martini? ›

A Wet Martini co*cktail contains a higher proportion of vermouth compared to vodka. A dry martini co*cktail has a lower proportion of vermouth. Martini co*cktails can be served in a wide variety of taste profiles — see all the ways you can make one at home.

What does vermouth do to a martini? ›

Sweet Vermouth was initially used as a co*cktail ingredient to lower the overall alcohol content of a co*cktail with a strong spirit as their base, but Vermouth also adds a mellow herbal flavour and aroma to your drink. Vermouth is actually a type of fortified wine flavoured with various botanicals.

What is a martini with a twist? ›

Its name, Martini With a Twist is literally what the co*cktail is. It's a martini garnished with a lemon (or citrus) peel twist. The classic martini consists only of two main ingredients: vodka or gin and vermouth. And typically optional ingredients like bitters and olives or citrus peels are used for garnish.

What to say when ordering a martini? ›

Order your martini wet, dry, or extra dry.

These terms refer to the ratio of gin or vodka to vermouth. If you do not specify what you want, you will be served a martini with a standard ratio. A wet martini is a martini with extra vermouth. A dry martini refers to a martini with less vermouth in it.

What do you call a martini with just vodka? ›

Vodka Martini, Vodkatini or Kangaroo.

What is the best vermouth for a martini? ›

The most straightforward way to choose a vermouth is to match the style to your drink and grab a bottle of what's called for in the recipe. Dolin is a popular brand, and the one I reach for the most, though Martini & Rossi and Cinzano are ubiquitous and serviceable, especially if you seek out their premium lines.

What is the difference between a dry martini and a classic martini? ›

A dry martini means that it is less sweet, containing less dry vermouth (which is called dry itself as it is less sweet than its red counterpart). A wet martini will have a higher amount of vermouth in the mix and a dirty martini means the addition of brine.

What is the difference between the different types of martinis? ›

Ironically, a wet Martini actually means adding more dry vermouth. A dry Martini will call for the normal amount of dry vermouth, where a wet Martini will call for more than one part dry vermouth.

Is a classic martini a dirty martini? ›

A dirty martini is a variation on the classic drink, the martini. Martinis are made with gin and dry vermouth, which makes it a very clean, dry, and aromatic drink. Because it only utilizes clear liquors, the drink itself is as see-through as the glass it comes in. The dirty martini, by contrast, is cloudy.

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