There’s something about a Martini that turns the best of us into our own version of James Bond, and you’ve either said it out loud or in your mind “Shaken, not stirred”. Like James, they’re classic, sexy, refined and downright delicious!

But let’s get one thing correct, a Classic Martini should always be stirred as breaking down the use by shaking will only dilute your delicious Martini – aint nobody got time for that.

On June 19^th every year, Martini enthusiasts around the globe celebrate National Martini Day (like we need an excuse!)

What you might not know is that the good old Martini is made in many different ways, and we are going to share a few of our favourites. One big tip… you want everything very, very cold, so start chilling those Martini glasses now.

Gin Martini

This iconic classic is very simple with only two ingredients perfectly blended to create a fine balance – down to your personal preference of course. This is a great cocktail to experience with different gins and vermouths, but for today we will be tooting our own horn and recommending a firm favourite.

Ingredients

70ml Death Gin

15ml Dry Vermouth (we recommend Regal Rogue Daring Dry) https://www.regalrogue.com/regalrogue_daringdry.html

Garnish with a lemon twist

Method

Pour all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice

Stir for 30 seconds and strain into a chilled Martini cocktail glass

Garnish with a lemon twist

Note: if you’re a little extra, express some of the oils from some lemon peel over the Martini – you can thank us later.

Dirty Martini

Repeat all of the above, and add 10 – 15ml of good olive brine, depending on how filthy you like it, and garnish with a 3-4 olives on a cocktail pick or skewer.

Clover Club

Raspberries and lemon and gin – oh my! Who doesn’t love something sweet, dart and delicious? Apparently, this was created at a popular hangout, the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia, for literary, legal, financial and business types of the Quaker City in the late 1800s. Here’s our take:

Ingredients

60ml Death Gin

30ml Lemon Juice

20ml Raspberry Liqueur (we recommend Marionette Dry Cassis) https://www.marionette.com.au/shop/drycassis

1 egg white (or 15ml aquafaba)

1 teaspoon of Simple Syrup

Garnish with fresh raspberries on a cocktail pick

Method

Pour all of your ingredients (aside from the garnish) into a cocktail shaker with lots of ice and shake like mad

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with your fresh raspberries on a cocktail pick or skewer

Chilli and Lychee Martini

This is sure to get you fired up for a good night – refreshing, sweet and spicy, this cocktail packs a punch in more ways than one. Depending on your heat tolerance, you may want to sprinkle some ground chilli on top as an additional garnish.

Ingredients:

60ml Death Gin Chilli

20ml Lychee Juice (from the can)

10ml Simple Syrup

1 egg white (or 15ml aquafaba)

Garnish: 3 whole Lychee’s

Method

Pour all of your ingredients (aside from the garnish) into a cocktail shaker with lots of ice and shake like mad

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with 3 lychee’s on a cocktail pick or skewer