Lesson 11: Martinis and Manhattans

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Free Online Bartending School, a great place to get bartending lessons online for free.

Today, we would like to go over Martini and Manhattan cocktails. So let's get right to it.

To start things off, here is a nice video on how to make a martini.

In the video above, the bartender goes over how to mix a martini, how to chill the martini glass, and what kind of garnish to use. The method that he uses to prepare the martini is very good, and will create a quality martini. Be sure to learn his methods. They will be your fundamentals in preparing a martini drink.

Martini cocktails can be divided into a few categories.

• Martini
• Manhattan
• Modified Martini - Ex: Apple Martini, Lychee Martini, Chocolate Martini
• Cosmopolitan

When you make a martini, be sure to use a martini glass. This is half of the fun. And without it, a customer will feel ripped off, and probably not tip you well. You have to keep in mind that a martini cocktail usually sell for about $7-15 a glass. Careful attention is needed so that the customer will feel as if the money was well spent.

Remember to chill the martini glasses by keeping them in a freezer, or use the chill method described in the video above.

When preparing a martini cocktail, it is also critical that you garnish the cocktails correctly. A customer will usually expect an olive, or at times a lemon peel in their martini. Without it, it really won't be a martini. So be sure to memorize the garnish of each of the martini cocktails that will be discussed below.

Another point to note is that when a customer orders a martini cocktail, they will likely tell you what brand of liquor to use for their cocktail. They'll say things like, Grey Goose Martini, Martini with Sapphire, Ketel One Cosmo, or Crown Royal Manhattan. You'll be expected to use that liquor to make the cocktail with.

One last thing to point out is that a thoughtful bartender may serve a "water back" with a martini cocktail. In other words, they'll give the customer a glass of water along with the cocktail since these drinks are pretty stiff. Depending on the customer they may or may not appreciate the extra mile, but it is a nice courtesy gesture that will earn you points to possibly get tipped more.

All that being said, here are the martini recipes you are expected to memorize. There are a few ways of making a martini. You may want to do a YouTube search on the keyword "How to Make a Martini." It's good practice to try it all, and see which method you like the most.

Also, martini glass usually look the same, but the actual sizes of it tends to differ pretty significantly. Be sure to adjust the recipe below to the martini glass that you will be using at your bar.

Martini Cocktail Recipes

Martini

2 oz. Gin

Dash (1/8 oz.) Dry Vermouth

Garnish with an Olive

Vodka Martini

2 oz. Vodka

Dash (1/8 oz.) Dry Vermouth

Garnish with an Olive

Dirty Martini

2 oz. Vodka

Dash (1/8 oz.) Dry Vermouth

1/8 oz. Olive Juice

Garnish with an Olive

Gibson

2 oz. Gin

Dash (1/8 oz.) Dry Vermouth

Garnish with a Pearl Onion

Manhattan

2 oz. Whiskey

1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth

Garnish with a Cherry

Perfect Manhattan

2 oz. Whiskey

1/8 oz. Sweet Vermouth

1/8 oz. Dry Vermouth

Garnish with a Lemon Twist

Rob Roy (Scotch Manhattan)

2 oz. Scotch

1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth

Garnish with a Cherry

Perfect Rob Roy

2 oz. Scotch

1/8 oz. Sweet Vermouth

1/8 oz. Dry Vermouth

Garnish with a Lemon Twist

Southern Comfort Manhattan

2 oz. Southern Comfort

1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth

Garnish with a Cherry

Apple Martini

1 1/2 oz. Vodka

1 1/2 oz. Apple Pucker

Garnish with a Cherry

Lychee Martini

1 1/2 oz Soho® lychee liqueur

1 oz Vodka

Garnish with a Cherry

Chocolate Martini

2 oz. Vanilla Vodka

1/2 oz Creme de Cacao

Garnish with a Hershey's Kiss

Cosmopolitan

1 oz Vodka

1/2 oz Triple Sec

1/2 oz Rose's® Lime Juice

1/2 oz Cranberry Juice

Garnish with a Lime or Cherry

Lemon Drop

Rim Martini Glass with Sugar

1 1/2 oz Vodka

1/2 oz. Triple Sec

1/2 oz Lemon Juice

Garnish with Lemon

The above are either the classic recipes or popular recipes that should be part of your repertoire as a bartender. Practice making these drinks at a party so that you can perfect it.

With the advent of infused vodka in recent years, drinks that are considered modified martinis will continue to be invented for our drinking pleasure.

Okay, so until next time, good luck studying and cheers!

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Lesson 10: Liqueur - Part 3

Lesson 12: Sweet and Sour Based Drinks