Extra Dry Martini
Alcoholic cocktail
Category : Alcoolisé
Origin : New York
Ingredients of the Extra Dry Martini cocktail
Preparation of the Extra Dry Martini cocktail
Fill the martini glass with ice cubes to chill it while preparing the cocktail Put 6 ice cubes and the vermouth into a mixing glass Stir vigorously for 15 seconds to infuse the ice cubes with the vermouth Discard the liquid, holding back the ice cubes with a strainer Pour the gin over the ice cubes Stir for 5 to 10 seconds Empty the glass of its ice cubes and strain the cocktail into the glass (filtering out the ice cubes) Garnish with an olive or a lemon twist
History of the Extra Dry Martini cocktail
The Extra Dry Martini belongs to the great Martini family, the iconic cocktail that emerged in the United States at the turn of the 20th century, in a context where urban bars were popularizing gin-based drinks. Its association with New York reflects the rise of classic cocktails in that city, which became a major center of bar culture. As with many foundational recipes, its exact history remains partly debated, but it clearly fits within the American tradition of gin paired with vermouth.
What defines the Extra Dry Martini above all is its aromatic restraint: gin takes center stage, while dry vermouth plays only a discreet supporting role. The term extra dry reflects this pursuit of extreme lightness in the vermouth, echoing a taste that took hold during the 20th century for cleaner, drier, and less sweet cocktails. It thus embodies a certain urban elegance, minimalist and precise, where the quality of the spirits and the balance of the mix take precedence over an abundance of ingredients.
The cocktail has established itself as a benchmark of classic mixology, associated with sophisticated drinking and a bar culture attentive to the clarity of the flavor profile. Its significance lies as much in its simplicity as in its symbolic status: the Extra Dry Martini has become a model of straightness and restraint in the world of alcoholic cocktails.