The Ultimate Guide to Martini Cocktails: History, Variations, and Expert Tips
Discover the fascinating world of martini cocktails in this comprehensive guide! From the classic gi...
Dry Martini Wet Cocktail recipe
Cocktail recipe
Rating
4.8 / 5
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
The Dry Martini Wet is the Martini turned deliberately softer and more aromatic, leaning into vermouth rather than treating it...
... more
The Dry Martini Wet is the Martini turned deliberately softer and more aromatic, leaning into vermouth rather than treating it as a mere rinse. You’ll recognise it as part of the long Martini family that grows out of late-19th-century gin-and-vermouth drinking, evolving into a symbol of pared-back elegance as tastes swung between “wet” and “dry” over the decades. In this wetter balance, the drink feels closer to those earlier, vermouth-forward expressions, while still keeping the Martini’s crisp, composed character.
Expect dry gin to set a clean, botanical backbone, with white vermouth bringing a fuller, wine-like roundness that smooths the edges and adds gentle herbal complexity. The orange bitters sit on top as a small but decisive accent: they knit the gin’s botanicals to the vermouth’s aromatics, adding a bright, citrus-tinged bitterness that keeps the finish taut rather than sweet.
Serve this when you want a Martini that’s expressive and easy to settle into—still brisk, but less austere than ultra-dry versions. It suits aperitif moments, pre-dinner conversation, and anyone who enjoys gin but wants more fragrance and depth in the glass without losing that classic, streamlined feel.
Check out all our FAQ's on this cocktail
Microbadges
~ No microbadges ~
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Base ingredient
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dry gin
Calories
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
156 calories
Alcohol content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32% | 2.88 units units of alcohol *
Details
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Easy
Classic
Cocktail Colin says:
5/5
Dry gin leads with crisp botanicals, but the generous white vermouth quickly brings a round, winey herbaceousness, while orange bitters add a bright citrus snap that lingers on the finish. This works because the vermouth’s softness cushions the gin’s edge and the bitters tie them together; it’s ideal for drinkers who want a gentler, more aromatic Martini.
Method
How to make a Dry Martini Wet
Serves 1 · Takes 3 minutes
- Dry gin 60ml, White vermouth 30ml, Orange bitters 2 dashes
-
- Begin by mixing 60ml Dry gin, 30ml White vermouth, and 2 dashes Orange Bitters together with ice in a mixing glass, ensuring they blend well
-
- Stir the mixture gently but thoroughly for about 10-15 seconds to properly cool and dilute the mix
-
- Once mixed, strain the concoction into a glass that has been pre-chilled, to maintain the cocktail's temperature
Power tips
Elevate the Dry Martini Wet with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Use a high-quality gin and vermouth to accentuate the balanced flavors of a Dry Martini Wet.
- Pre-chill your mixing glass and all utensils to maintain the cocktail's cold temperature throughout preparation.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Dry Martini Wet masterclass
Master the craft of the Dry Martini Wet cocktail with one of our cocktail deep dive masterclasses
Your private tasting notes
~ Register as a user for free to create tasting notes, save your bar and more ~
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the difference between a Dry Martini and a Wet Martini?
The primary difference between a Dry Martini and a Wet Martini lies in the ratio of gin to vermouth. A Dry Martini typically has a higher proportion of gin to dry vermouth, often with a very minimal amount of vermouth. A Wet Martini, on the other hand, features a higher ratio of vermouth to gin, making it slightly less alcoholic and somewhat milder in taste.
Why is the Dry Martini Wet not shaken or stirred?
The Dry Martini Wet, like many classic martinis, can be either stirred or shaken according to preference. However, the preference for not shaking or stirring might aim to preserve the clarity and integrity of the ingredients, ensuring a smoother texture. Stirring gently can also prevent the drink from becoming overly diluted with water from the ice.
How important are the orange bitters to the flavor of a Dry Martini Wet?
Orange bitters play a significant role in adding complexity and depth to the Dry Martini Wet. They introduce a subtle citrus aroma and a slight bitter edge that balances the botanical flavors of the gin and the herbaceous notes of the vermouth. While you can customize the cocktail to personal taste, omitting the bitters would result in a slightly different flavor profile.
Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Dry Martini Wet?
Yes, a non-alcoholic version of the Dry Martini Wet can be created using non-alcoholic substitutes for gin and vermouth. Non-alcoholic spirits designed to mimic the botanical flavors of gin and alcohol-free vermouth alternatives are available. Using these substitutes with the same proportions and method will result in a similar taste and presentation without the alcohol content.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
* US units estimated based on the standard alcohol content of the ingredients used and the proportions in the recipe. Please drink responsibly.
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we'll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we'll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Jump to
Top
Ingredients
Method
Power tips
Tasting notes
Comments
Featured in
FAQ's
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments