Whether beginners or experts, martini drinkers nationwide are gearing up for National Martini Day on June 19. To celebrate America’s classic cocktail and the continued growth of vodka martinis, GREY GOOSE Vodka recommends recipes for different skill levels including the Original Classic Martini for beginners and the VX Martini Exceptionelle for experts only (hint: it calls for an absinthe rinse).

The martini’s rich American history is deserving of a toast – the cocktail dates back to the 1860s but its true origin is debated. One theory suggests it evolved from a cocktail called the “Martinez” served in the early 1860s in San Francisco, named after the nearby town of Martinez. Another theory links its creation to a NYC bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia who served the cocktail in 1911 at the Knickerbocker Hotel.

Regardless of its origin, the martini quickly gained a strong and famed following including John D. Rockefeller, James Bond, Humphrey Bogart, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Clark Gable and Ernest Hemingway.

For Beginners: GREY GOOSE® Original Classic Martini

GREY GOOSE® Original Classic Martini

Ingredients

2 Parts GREY GOOSE® Original

½ Part NOILLY PRAT® Original French Dry Vermouth

1 Dash Orange Bitters

Method

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add NOILLY PRAT Original French Dry Vermouth.
3. Stir to coat ice and strain out.
4. Add GREY GOOSE Vodka and bitters, if desired, and stir well.
5. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
6. Present with an olive or lemon twist.

For Experts: GREY GOOSE® VX Martini Exceptionelle

GREY GOOSE® VX Martini Exceptionelle

Ingredients

2.5 oz. GREY GOOSE® VX

Absinthe rinse

Spray of honey water

Garnish or skewer of frozen grapes

Method

1. Rinse absinthe in glass.
2. Stir VX over ice and strain in martini glass.
3. Spray honey water into glass.
4. Garnish with frozen grapes, a peach slice, or no garnish at all.

Enjoy!