Sorry, Bond, but according to Christian Preda, a bartender at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City, the classic martini is stirred, not shaken. The latter waters down the gin. Christian’s recipe recently appeared in Martha Stewart Living magazine along with many other how-to’s. Here is his recipe:
Fill a pint glass with ice. Add 6 ounces of good-quality gin and 4 to 6 drops extradry vermouth. Stir well with a cocktail spoon, about 45 seconds. Top the glass with a cocktail strainer and pour into a chilled martini glass. Thread 3 olives onto a cocktail stirrer and serve. According to tradition, the 3 olives represent health, wealth, and love.
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