Canberra Martini Survey

Each Martini is unique, and each bar & mixologist will approach them differently.

Plus as any Martini drinker around town will know, it can be a very variable experience as to quality and price.

So to get a handle on this I approached about a dozen bars from my list, plus some five star hotels, and to date these are the responses I got to some questions as to price, the default Gin used if the customer doesn’t specify, pour measure etc.

Naturally, the following is subject to change at the respective venues and as others come back to me I’ll add them.

Updated 4/2/14

A.Baker

• What’s your standard Gin: As far as our house pour for a martini if they don’t specify is the Westwinds Sabre From WA, specifically because it’s very smooth, easy drinking and just a lovely all round Gin.
• What Dry Vermouth do you use: Our Dry Vermouth is Maidenii Dry, from Victoria.
• What’s the total pour in mls for the cocktail: I like to make my martinis quite dry so It’s a 60ml Gin to about 8mls Vermouth. The total pour will be about 80mls after dilution.
• Do you use any special ingredients, such as orange bitters or gourmet olives: As far as special garnishes go, I am a purist and if can convince the customer, I serve the Martini Clean, with no vermouth at all. for the westwinds Sabre, a Lemon Twist is standard.
• The price of the standard Gin Martini:  A standard Martini Goes for $15, A bargain!
• Website: www.abaker.com.au

Hippo and Co

• What’s your standard Gin: We house pour Tanqueray for a martini, also have a selection of other gins available.
• What Dry Vermouth do you use: We use Dolin we have a variety of other vermouths available on request
• What’s the total pour in mls for the cocktail: Total of 60ml gin
• Do you use any special ingredients, such as orange bitters or gourmet olives:  We use unstuffed scicilian olives on a toothpick , creating an axis around the drink. We feel that stuffed olives have no business in a martini aside from maybe those stuffed with pimento.
• The thing that we have that sets us apart from other bars is the most important ingredient in a martini, ice. When the venue was renovated we had a special ice machine installed with the store room literally built around it!  It is a Japanese machine that produces the hardest and most dense machine ice in the world in 21mm cubes, perfect for stirring martinis and shaking cocktails as it offers minimal dilution with maximum chill. 
• The price of the standard Gin Martini: $16
• Website: www.hippoco.com.au

Hotel Hotel / Deadset Bar

• What’s your standard Gin: South Gin 
• What Dry Vermouth do you use: Dolin dry
• What’s the total pour in mls for the cocktail: 60ml Gin  + 15ml Vermouth
• Do you use any special ingredients, such as orange bitters or gourmet olives: Sometimes a Lillet Blanc rinse of the glass
• The price of the standard Gin Martini: $16
• Website: www.hotel-hotel.com.au/eat-drink/

Muddle Bar

The Loft at Duxton

• What’s your standard Gin: I think that most of my bartenders will have their own preference but my first pour for a gin martini would be ‘The Botanist’.
• What Dry Vermouth do you use: Noilly Prat original
• What’s the total pour in mls for the cocktail: 60mls Gin, 5-10 ml vermouth
• Do you use any special ingredients, such as orange bitters or gourmet olives:  Generally we use the large green Sicilian olives. Occasionally if the customer feels adventurous I like to add about 5ml of St Germain elderflower with a lemon twist should they feel like something slightly sweeter.
• The price of the standard Gin Martini: $18
• Website: www.theloftatduxton.com.au

Ox Bar at East Hotel

• What’s your standard Gin:  Spanish Gin Laos 
• What Dry Vermouth do you use: Dolin Dry
• What’s the total pour in mls for the cocktail: 45ml + vermouth to taste
• Do you use any special ingredients, such as orange bitters or gourmet olives:  Yes we use olives, lemon twists and a selection of bitters
• The price of the standard Gin Martini: $15.00-18.00
• Website: http://oxeatery.com.au

Parlour Wine Room

• What’s your standard Gin: Larios gin. It’s a Spanish gin infused with orange blossom water and 12 botanicals. So I would suggest an orange twist garnish with it to compliment the flavours.
• What Dry Vermouth do you use: Dolin dry vermouth from France.
• What’s the total pour in mls for the cocktail:
  • very dry 5mls/ barspoon
  • dry 10mls
  • wet 15mls
  • 60ml Gin
• That being said if the customer wants more or less then they are more than welcome to tell the bartender their own specs. Everyone has their own preference, especially when it comes to martinis.
• Do you use any special ingredients, such as orange bitters or gourmet olives:  We have beautiful Sicilian green olives that we use as an olive garnish. With a full, rich buttery body to them.
• The price of the standard Gin Martini:  $18 for a House gin martini. Same for vodka!
• Website: www.parlour.net.au

The Treehouse

• What’s your standard Gin: Our house pour gin for a martini is Tanqueray if not specified by customer – although we will always encourage the customer to go with the best gin based on how they like their martini. For instance if they like it dirty then I find Finsbury goes amazingly. 
• What Dry Vermouth do you use: We use Dolin Dry Vermouth as a standard in our martini’s. Its quite light and palatable and mixes well with most gin’s without over powering it. 
• What’s the total pour in mls for the cocktail: For a basic classic gin martini, we will use 60ml Gin and 10ml Dolin Dry Vermouth = 70ml, plus dilution which usually adds 15-25ml water. 
• Do you use any special ingredients, such as orange bitters or gourmet olives:  I find that sicilian olives go amazingly with Gin Martini’s. If I am making them at home for myself though I will often purchase the blue cheese stuffed green olives, as they add another dimension to the drink. 
• The price of the standard Gin Martini:  $16.00
• Website: www.treehousebar.com.au