Martinis are an acquired taste. One I have enjoyed acquiring immensely. The good thing about martinis when you are on Keto is that Gin has no carbs. Extra dry vermouth also only has approximately 0.3 carbs per ounce. And garnishing with olives is also a great boon because olives have more fat that anything else. Therefore, martinis are a low-carb cocktail.
Are you a royal fan? Apparently, both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles enjoy their martinis too. The queen likes her martinis extra dry, bless her. She’s been known to have a dry martini in the evening. Prince Charles, on the other hand, likes his martinis wet, and I agree.
A Martini is often classed on a spectrum of wet to dry. Dryness is the most common way they are referred. And these are Gin Martinis, not the James Bond abomination that is not a Martini. Moreover, a martini is not shaken and it is not made with Vodka. That would be a Vodka Martini.
The classic Martini, implies it is Gin based. Back to the dryness: the dryness of a Martini is determined by the amount of extra dry Vermouth used. Ironically, the less extra dry Vermouth, the more dry the Martini. Whether you like a dry or wet Martini, clean or dirty, they are all keto friendly.
I know those who like a ‘bone dry’ martini, they are true gin lovers. They like it when the Vermouth is poured into the glass to coat the sides and then poured out before the gin is poured in. I even know those who like it even drier and just like the Vermouth is merely waved o’er the glass, or spritzed with a perfume atomizer. Not me. For me, both kinds, are coma inducing. Above all, it is not the way I like to imbibe my favourite cocktails.
“I like to have a Martini, two at the very most. After three I’m under the table, after four I’m under my host.” ~ Dorothy Parker
Well, it may be that Dorothy Parker never even said her famous quote, but you get my point. For this reason, I prefer my Martini’s extra wet. This means it has an even ration between Gin and Vermouth, and thus, it is also known as the One to One Martini. First, have the glass chilling with ice. Then, adding the Gin and Vermouth in heaps of crushed ice in your shaker and stirring well also adds water to the mix. It’s a helpful tool to prevent you from making promises you don’t intend to keep after your second Martini.
With this ratio and some lovely accompanying snacks, I don’t feel flattened after just one drink. The days of me being able to drink 2 ½ oz. of Gin plus a touch of Vermouth in one drink are behind me. Actually, they were never there, but even less now. Remember, eating low-carb makes you a lightweight. Be warned. This drink is more tempered and allows me to enjoy a Martini without dancing on the table once it is done.
I prefer using a good quality cocktail pitcher or shaker to stir. If you don’t have one, in a pinch, a mason jar will do. And ice. Make sure you have lots of ice. Nothing is more disappointing than a tepid Martini! Then you want a long spoon to stir. Do not shake!
For garnishing, I love olives with a martini and my absolute favourite are olives stuffed with lemon. The best of both worlds. They are hard to find though, but when you do – shazam!
If using skewers, make them ahead, keep them at the bar or in the fridge depending on how many martini’s you’ll be making and for how long. Same for your lemon wedges and even just olives at the bottom of a glass.
Have them ready in a bowl so you can add them once your Martini is ready. This way, once the drink is poured you can add the skewer or garnish and serve immediately, and your drink can be enjoyed ice cold.
I recommend serving this drink with a charcuterie board of keto friendly cheeses and snacks.
Enjoy!
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