How to Make the Smoky Martini

If you are looking for a sophisticated, yet simple drink to serve your guests as an aperitivo, I recommend you try the Smoky Martini. With only two ingredients, this classic gin martini is unlike any other you have ever tried!

The Smoky Martini is among one of the cocktails that appeared in a book before it might actually have been made. It pops up in Norman Mailer’s 1991 novel Harlot’s Ghost by Norman Mailer. Legend Dale Degroff, the master bartender, took it in hand to recreate it, replacing the dry vermouth in a classic Martini with blended Scotch whiskey. He then gave it a different name, changing it from the Berlin Station Chief to the Smoky Martini in his Craft of the Cocktail.

True Martini fans may balk at it, but try it! Who knows, even James Bond might have liked it! The gin’s botanicals mixed with the smoky whisky might tempt event you!

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What goes into a Smoky Martini

You will need only two ingredients to make a unique drink. These are:

• London Dry Gin: London Dry Gin would be my choice. You need a less dramatic gin to balance the peat of the scotch.
• Blended Scotch whisky: As you are mixing this cocktail with gin, you will want to use one of the many blended scotch whiskies instead of single malts. I would suggest more of an Islay scotch with its smoky flavor or any peated scotch with a hint of smoke. Even with the smoky flavor that the scotch adds, there will still be that bit of sweetness as well.
• Garnish: Use a lemon twist to garnish the Smoky Martini cocktail!

What tools you need to make Smoky Martini

You won’t be needing a cocktail shaker for this one! Grab a jigger, a mixing glass, and a chilled Martini glass for this Smoky Martini recipe.

Making this classic cocktail is super easy. Because it requires only two ingredients, you can easily make it in large batches.

• Step 1: In a mixing glass, add ice cubes.
• Step 2: Then add in the blended scotch and dry gin.
• Step 3: Stir, stir, stir
• Step 4: Strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Step 5: Garnish it with a twist of lemon peel. Bottoms Up!

• 🍸Top Tip(le):
  • Vodka: You can use Vodka but the tradition recipe is with gin!
  • Dry vermouth: You can replace scotch with dry vermouth as well but then you have a recipe for the classic Gin Martini! 😎

Where to find more Martini recipes

You can find loads of other martini recipes to try! Here are a few of my favorites:

• The classic of classics: The Classic Gin Martini
• The super popular: The Espresso Martini
• James Bond’s go-to Martini: The Vodka Martini
• The Citrus Martini in a Shot: The Lemon Drop Martini Shot
• Try the Vesper Martini if you love Vermouth
• The Naughty Porn Star Martini
• The Martini of the Moment: The Gibson Martini
• My absolute fave: The Dirty Martini

 Plus more smoky cocktail recipes here

Here is the recipe!

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