11 Rules for Martinis

How to understand the most classic of classic cocktails. And how to make it your own.

It took me a long time to understand what a Martini was. 

Sure, I knew the basics: gin and dry vermouth, often with a bit of orange bitters, and maybe a lemon peel or olive for garnish. The Martini was one of the all time cocktail classics, up there with the Manhattan, the Old Fashioned, and the Daiquiri. Indeed, it so dominated the American cocktail sce…