Vodkatini / Vodka Martini

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (61 ratings)

Serve in a Martini glass

Ingredients:
2 12 oz Ketel One Vodka
14 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Martini glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist &/or skewered chilled Fragata Green Olive.
  3. SHAKE (or STIR) all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. Express lemon zest twist over cocktail and use as garnish &/or adorn with a skewered olive.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 9/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 8/10
Cocktail of the day:

4th October 2025 is It's International Vodka Day

Review:

Temperature is key to the enjoyment of this modern classic. Consume while icy cold and you'll enjoy a clean and crisp Martini.

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History:

Exactly where the Vodkatini fits in the vexed question of the origins of the Dry Martini are unknown but it's certain that 'Vodka Martinis' were being served in New York after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. It's first known print appearance is a 1935 Smirnoff marketing pamphlet:

VODKA MANHATTAN COCKTAIL
2 parts Vodka
1 part Italian Vermouth (Sweet)
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Ice and stir well. Strain into cocktail glass. Add Maraschino Cherry.
VODKA MARTINI COCKTAIL (DRY)
3 parts Vodka
1 part French Vermouth (Dry)
Put 1 or 2 pieces of lemon peel with ice in mixing glass, stir well. Strain into cocktail glass.
Twist a bit of lemon peel on finished drink. Add an olive if desired.

Smirnoff brochure, 1935

The Vodka Martini's first appearance in a cocktail recipe book is in Ted Saucier's 1952 Bottoms Up.

VODKATINI
By Jerome Zerbe, Photographer, and Society Editor of Town and Country
4/5 jigger Smirnoff vodka
1/5 jigger dry vermouth
Ice
Stir in mixer. Strain into cocktail glass, and add twist lemon peel.

Ted Saucier, Bottoms Up, 1952

Saucier credits the invention of the Vodka Martini to Jerome Zerbe (1904-1988), the society editor of Town and Country Magazine. Zerbe is also credited for being the first celebrity paparazzi. A socialite, he was almost as much a celebrity as the celebrities he photographed and counted movie stars such as Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn, and Cary Grant as close friends.

The popularity of the Vodkatini was helped by the rise of vodka during the 1980s and 1990s, and Ian Fleming's character James Bond, who famously drinks Vodka Martini's "shaken, not stirred." [Bond actually drinks Vesper Martinis.]

Nutrition:

One serving of Vodkatini / Vodka Martini contains 174 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.6 standard drinks
  • 27.94% alc./vol. (27.94° proof)
  • 23.1 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Egg McKenzie’s Avatar Egg McKenzie
21st April at 19:39
Loved every second of this.
12th April at 11:00
Honestly, I think it's far inferior to a classic Martini with a good gin. With vodka the taste of the dry Vermouth became very prevalent even in a small amount.
Paul Holdsworth’s Avatar Paul Holdsworth
11th December 2024 at 17:18
Now this is interesting. A subtle drink of Noilly Prat and lemon zest, that kicks you in the head. Fun for the sledgehammer blow it delivers, but I'd rather enjoy neat dry vermouth on ice with a twist.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
1st February 2023 at 13:16
Ketel One and Dolin Dry, olive garnish... A Martini has gin in it, not vodka. (1 Feb 2023, 8:16a)
1st March 2022 at 17:42
This glass of wine relaxes me, but it's too much. I just need a little vermouth.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
5th August 2021 at 23:41
Great vodka martini. No frills or hype. Just the classic drink.