# Shaking a vodka martini? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [June 27, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493 "2008-06-27T20:27:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/1 "2008-06-27T20:27:11Z")
In a staff report, the reason for shaking a vodka martini is that that method gets the drink really cold. Why not start with vodka that has been kept in a freezer and then stirring the drink? That way you do not have to get chipped ice in the drink. [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmartini.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmartini.html) ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/2 "2008-06-27T20:28:54Z")
[QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] In staff report the reason for shaking a vodka martini is that that method gets the drink really cold. Why not start with vodka that has been kept in a freezer? That way you do not have to get chipped ice in the drink. [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmartini.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmartini.html) [/QUOTE] My understanding is that you want that chipped ice in the drink along with the smallest amount of vermouth possible. Otherwise you might as well just drink a shot of vodka with an olive on the side. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/3 "2008-06-27T20:30:01Z")
That is how Martinis at my house are poured: 1 bottle of vodka, pour out a measure or two. Insert one garlic glove and several olives. Top off with vermouth. Place in freezer for one month. When I want a martini, I take my martini glass from the freezer, take the martini bottle from the freezer - give it a couple of shakes, and pour into the glass. Two olives are added, and I drink away. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/4 "2008-06-27T20:31:56Z")
[QUOTE=NAF1138] My understanding is that you want that chipped ice in the drink along with the smallest amount of vermouth possible. Otherwise you might as well just drink a shot of vodka with an olive on the side. [/QUOTE] I want the chipped ice in mine. If I can get tiny slivers of ice glittering on the surface of the drink, I am a happy man. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/5 "2008-06-27T20:32:03Z")
[QUOTE=Algher] That is how Martinis at my house are poured: 1 bottle of vodka, pour out a measure or two. Insert one garlic glove and several olives. Top off with vermouth. Place in freezer for one month. When I want a martini, I take my martini glass from the freezer, take the martini bottle from the freezer - give it a couple of shakes, and pour into the glass. Two olives are added, and I drink away. [/QUOTE] Damn, that sounds good. I am not a big fan of the martini, but I may need to make myself up a bottle of that for the rare occasion when I am in the mood. The garlic and olives sitting in the bottle is genius. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/6 "2008-06-27T20:44:49Z")
[QUOTE=NAF1138] Damn, that sounds good. I am not a big fan of the martini, but I may need to make myself up a bottle of that for the rare occasion when I am in the mood. The garlic and olives sitting in the bottle is genius. [/QUOTE] Grandad taught me, and I will pass it on to my kids as well. It is nice ALWAYS having an ice cold martini waiting for me. Watch it - I did over garlic one bottle in a “if ONE clove is good, I should put in 5!” moment of stupidity. Mind you, this is a level of stupidity that I repeat in my cooking all the time. THAT particular bottle turned into a source for vodka pasta recipes instead. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/7 "2008-06-27T21:21:06Z")
We always keep a bottle of Ketel One in the freezer for my wife’s martini urges. I’m going to modify **Algher** ’s idea to her tastes (Dirty, and not _that_ dry). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/8 "2008-06-27T21:24:40Z")
Isn’t there something about how shaking oxidates it a bit? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/9 "2008-06-27T21:34:46Z")
[QUOTE=Algher] Grandad taught me, and I will pass it on to my kids as well. It is nice ALWAYS having an ice cold martini waiting for me. Watch it - I did over garlic one bottle in a “if ONE clove is good, I should put in 5!” moment of stupidity. Mind you, this is a level of stupidity that I repeat in my cooking all the time. THAT particular bottle turned into a source for vodka pasta recipes instead. [/QUOTE] Good warning. I would have probably thrown in more than just one with the same theory. So you are thinking what, a clove of garlic, 5 or 6 olives and maybe 3 shots of vermouth for a 1 liter bottle of vodka? (I happen to have a bottle of Stoli at home that I wasn’t sure what I should do with.) ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/10 "2008-06-27T21:49:32Z")
[QUOTE=NAF1138] Good warning. I would have probably thrown in more than just one with the same theory. So you are thinking what, a clove of garlic, 5 or 6 olives and maybe 3 shots of vermouth for a 1 liter bottle of vodka? (I happen to have a bottle of Stoli at home that I wasn’t sure what I should do with.) [/QUOTE] Sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/11 "2008-06-27T23:24:16Z")
It’s worth pointing out that Ian Fleming’s James Bond smokes 70 cigarettes a day and lives for sharp intense sensations in food, alcohol, gambling, adventure and sex. The gourmet Bond with encyclopedic knowledge of wine and such is strictly a movie convention. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/12 "2008-06-28T00:04:53Z")
[QUOTE=Great Dave] Isn’t there something about how shaking oxidates it a bit? [/QUOTE] This is the way I learned it (and I’m a bartender). Shaking the martini puts more air into the drink, therefore making the martini a bit less strong to the taste. Stirring results in less air and therefore a stronger drink. Each way will get them relatively equally cold. Not being a physics expert (or I wouldn’t be a bartender), I cannot say if this is true or not (over a short period I would think the air would return to the, well, air), but it definitely appears to make a difference with Cosmos and other martini derivatives of that sort. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/13 "2008-06-28T00:09:39Z")
Hey, at least there’s no loose talk about bruising the juniper berries, 'cuz there aren’t any. Do potatoes bruise? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-vodka-martini/454493/14 "2008-06-28T00:15:56Z")
[QUOTE=Bayard] I want the chipped ice in mine. If I can get tiny slivers of ice glittering on the surface of the drink, I am a happy man. [/QUOTE] Ditto. This is the difference between a drinkable martini and a great martini.