Stirred
Spirit-forward, no juice — and so stirred, never shaken. A martini is about 5 : 1 spirit : dry vermouth (2½ oz : ½ oz); wetter is 3 : 1, drier is a rinse.
Stir with plenty of ice for 20–30 seconds, until the glass is very cold and the drink has gained roughly a quarter of its volume in water, then strain into a chilled glass and serve up. Stirring chills and dilutes without bubbles or ice shards, which keeps the drink clear and silky.
- Keep vermouth in the fridge once opened; it is wine and it fades within a few weeks.
- A barspoon of syrup is a seasoning here, not a sweetener.
