Harper’s BAZAAR, 1957 | Photography: Henry Clarke
There’s nothing more chic–or sexy, for that matter–than confidently walking up to a sleek bar and ordering one of the most classic cocktails in the book. And as it turns out, the drink choice of every badass, from James Bond to Thomas Crowne to Olivia Pope, is far more simple than it seems. Decide whether you’d like gin or vodka (hint: gin is the more classic of the two and therefore what you’ll get if you don’t specify); then, choose whether you’d like a stiff drink or a briny dirty martini. The garnish is your choice as well, and real connoisseurs know how to mix it up and keep bartenders on their toes. Case in point: watch Olivia Pope order hers with a twist and two olives whenever she’s not drinking Bordeaux. For those who are stumped by a drink that’s far from a tame, fruity cocktail, we’ve got you covered. Here, three ways to order this staple in style, and the recipes to make them at home.
-1 dash orange bitters
-3/4 oz. dry vermouth
-2.5 oz of gin
-lemon twist for garnish
Dirty Martini
1/2 oz. of olive brine
-2.5 oz of gin/vodka
-3 olives for garnish
Straight Up Martini
-2.5 oz of vodka/gin
-lemon twist for garnish
