1. Chill a coupe or martini glass.
2. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
3. Add vodka, vermouth and brine; stir until well chilled.
4. Strain mixture into chilled glass; garnish with olives.

Tasty Tip:

• A classic martini is usually made with gin instead of vodka.

Good Question: Shaken or stirred?

Shaking and stirring both mix ingredients. Shaking cocktails with ice typically chills a drink faster but dilutes it more. Depending on the drink, different amounts of dilution are desirable.

Drinks that are primarily alcohol, like martinis, are usually stirred so they don’t become too diluted or cloudy. That said, James Bond likes his martinis shaken, so, as is almost always the case with cocktails, you do you!

Drinks with sweeteners, juices and multiple types of alcohol are often shaken, as it is the most effective way to incorporate the many ingredients. (There are some drinks for which blending is not desired, however, such as tequila sunrises.)