Sweet Martini
Gin and sweet vermouth with orange bitters. The style of martini drunk before the dry martini took over.
Stirred · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 27% ABV
Ingredients
- 50 ml Gin
- 25 ml Sweet vermouth
- 1 dash Orange bitters
- Cocktail cherry (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 50 ml gin into the mixing glass
- Pour 25 ml sweet vermouth into the mixing glass
- Add 1 dash of Orange bitters
- Add ice
- Stir
- Strain
- Garnish
Tip
Garnish with a cherry, the way it was served in the 1900s.
About the Sweet Martini
The vermouth cocktail family. Vermouth reached American bars in the 1860s and 1870s, and bartenders began stirring it with whiskey, gin and brandy. That gave us the Manhattan and the Martinez, the ancestor of the Martini. Drinks in this family are stirred rather than shaken, and they are all about the balance between the spirit and the aromatised wine.
Sweet Martini FAQ
What's in a Sweet Martini?
50 ml gin, 25 ml sweet vermouth, 1 dash orange bitters, garnished with cocktail cherry.
How strong is a Sweet Martini?
About 27% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is close to a straight spirit, so sip it slowly.
Should I shake or stir a Sweet Martini?
Stir it. It is made only of spirits and wines, so stirring keeps it clear and silky. Shaking would make it cloudy and frothy.
What glass do you serve a Sweet Martini in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
