13 Magnificent Martini Recipes

Is there anything classier than a martini? From James Bond to "Mad Men," the drink has become a touchstone in pop culture that lends an air of bygone glamor to anything it touches, and the same applies to the real world. Serve this drink at a dinner party and it's bound to impress, even if your guests are wine snobs or think of themselves as cocktail connoisseurs. Its sophistication is all about simplicity. Made with just gin (or vodka) and vermouth, a martini is garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon, and served in a funnel-shaped glass with a long, delicate stem. Where champagne has its characteristic bubbles and whiskey its caramel color, the martini distinguishes itself with its crystal clear color and equally crystalline glass. There is nothing intrinsically showy about it except that the subtly itself is eye-catching.

Because of their simplicity, martinis lend themselves to adaptation. Martini glasses are the classic option for Cosmopolitans, Manhattans, and Gimlets, but the formula of gin or vodka and vermouth has received dozens (and probably even hundreds) of variations over the years, centered around everything from apples to chocolate. Our roundup of recipes celebrates martinis for the classic, timeless cocktails they are, but doesn't shy away from adding a few surprising twists. So, whether you're a martini purist or a maverick with mixology, keep reading to find your next favorite variation on the classic cocktail.

Coconut cocktails are often sweet and heavy with elaborate garnishes, but while such concoctions are often delicious, they do not suit every occasion. This coconut martini is an ideal alternative for when you want something coconutty, but light and elegantly simple.

Made with vodka, coconut rum, coconut cream, and lime juice, it is bright and citrusy with a snowy appearance that looks just as classy at a festive winter party as it does by a pool on a summer day. Coat the rim of the glass with desiccated coconut for an even more striking look.

Recipe: Coconut Martini Cocktail

There is some controversy over what, exactly, constitutes a "classic" martini. Gin and vermouth are a given, but can it be called a martini if it's shaken, not stirred? Does a shaken martini have to be referred to as a Bradford instead? And should you garnish it with a twist of lemon or an olive?

Our recipe opts for the gold standard: a stirred cocktail with a twist of lemon. As recipe developer Christina Musgraves puts it, "[I]t's simple, crisp, and delicious," everything you could wish for in a classic martini.

Recipe: Classic Martini Cocktail

One of the easiest ways to dress up a regular martini without significantly altering its winning formula is to make a lemon drop martini, a drink that has become a classic in its own right. Made with vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and triple sec, it is a sweeter version of a vodkatini with a bright, citrusy twist.

This drink is a crowd-pleaser with its sweetness and the neutral flavor of vodka. For the summertime, it's a classy, adult version of lemonade that will go down in style at any party.

Recipe: Classic Lemon Drop Martini

Whether you like them shaken or stirred, vodka martinis are one of those cocktails that every bartender (amateur or otherwise) should know how to make. Vodka, vermouth, and ice are all you need. This recipe calls for an olive garnish, but a twist of lemon is also a classic option.

Because there are so few ingredients in a vodka martini, the quality of each one is paramount. Although vodka might not have the trendiness of tequila or bourbon, its quality varies greatly, and it's worth getting the good stuff for a stellar martini.

Recipe: Classic Vodka Martini Cocktail

Martinis offer so much room for customization — shaken or stirred, lemon twist or olives, gin or vodka — that a person's martini order is a narrative device in many novels and movies to illustrate a character's personality (James Bond is the most obvious example).

A dirty martini sounds dangerous and rough around the edges, but its use of olive brine has a surprising effect. Rather than muddying or obscuring the other ingredients as its name suggests, salt in cocktails actually heightens the flavors and smooths the bitterness, making it taste sweeter and brighter.

Recipe: Classic Dirty Martini

Chocolate and mint taste delicious in cookies and ice cream, so it stands to reason that they would taste delicious in a cocktail, too. This martini looks and tastes perfect for the festive winter season, but it's so yummy that you'll be tempted to make it year-round.

Unlike other mint-flavored cocktails, this one does not employ green food coloring. Instead, it's made with chocolate syrup, crème de cacao, vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, half and half, and a candy cane. With whipped cream and chocolate shavings as a garnish, it's a delicious indulgence.

Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Martini