Standard vodka martini

Although this martini will certainly qualify as a standard martini, you'll often find that every bartender will create the drink with a slight (or perhaps not so slight) variation. This is a MartiniGuy favorite, and quite often my default drink of choice.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces of freezing Absolut or Chopin vodka.
• 1 teaspoon of Noilly Pratt vermouth.
• 3 Picholine olives stuffed with crumbled bleu cheese.
• 1 fancy schmancy toothpick.

The mix

• To set the appropriate mixing mood, we suggest either some light jazz, or any Dean Martini music.
• Pour your Vodka into a well chilled shaker and let stand for sixty seconds. Count down from sixty to zero.
• While counting down, drop your vermouth into a frozen martini glass, swirl the vermouth around the glass and then pour it out.
• Shake, shake, shake. About fifteen vigorous, diagonal shakes followed by swirling the shaker a few times. If you get some "hip action" going (hula style) your guests are sure to enjoy the entertainment value.
• Strain your freezing vodka into your glass.
• Spear your olives and gently slide them into the glass.
• Have a seat in your favorite chair. Sip and relax.