How to Make A Freezer Martini

August 20, 2023

What makes a good martini? Some drinkers prefer it stirred, others shaken. Some opt for vodka, others gin. Some want it dry, some want it dirty, and some even like it on the rocks (and then there’s the highly contentious issue of garnish variety and quantity). However, while there are countless ways to quarrel about what makes a perfect martini, most of us can agree on one thing: a good martini is a frigid martini. And this method for preparing freezer martinis will give you one that’s almost painfully cold.

Freezer Martini

How to Prepare a Freezer Martini

You’ll need:

  • A mason jar or glass bottle
  • Your spirit of choice
  • A jigger or small measuring cup
  • A coupe or martini glass
  • Water
  • A freezer
  • Your garnish of choice
  • Dry vermouth (optional)
  • Olive juice (optional)

Begin by adding 3 ounces of your spirit of choice to your jar or bottle. Next, add .75-1 oz of water (basically, you want to divide your amount of spirit by 4 then add that amount of water). Then place your jar or bottle in the freezer for a minimum of eight hours along with your cocktail glass. If you want to add vermouth or olive juice, keep them chilled in the fridge, but I recommend adding them right before serving so you don’t accidentally over dilute your martini and make it icy.

When you’re ready to enjoy your freezer martini, assemble your garnishes before taking your glass or martini out of the freezer to keep them cold as long as possible. Then take out your glass, fill it with the frozen liquid, add your olive juice and/or vermouth, and garnish.

Why Bother With Freezer Martinis?

When you make a freezer martini, not only do you get to do a little less work with stirring, shaking, and straining, it also will result in a colder martini. I put a food thermometer in my freezer martini and it dropped to zero degrees Fahrenheit (-17.8 Celcius). When I stirred my martini 75 times in a frozen mixing glass with freshly cracked ice, it only made it down to 19 degrees Fahrenheit (-7.2 Celcius). Still very cold, but decidedly less so.

Perhaps obviously, the addition of less chilled dry vermouth and olive juice in significant amounts will warm up the drink, so if you know you like adding a substantial amount of these ingredients it might make more sense to use the traditional method of stirring or shaking.

Why Add Water to Your Freezer Martini?

When you stir or shake a martini, the ice you use not only imparts chill but also dilution. Adding water is an attempt to replicate the dilution that would normally be added through shaking and stirring.

Freezer Martini Video


Bar Equipment Featured in the Freezer Martini Video

Note: Prices are listed as they appeared at the time this blog was posted. Please be sure to double check price and description on the corresponding websites of each product before purchasing.


Digital Meat Thermometer


Long Handle Cocktail Mixing Spoon


6-Pack Mason Jars


24 Oz Cocktail Mixing Glass


Lapel Microphone


Silver Parisian Cocktail Shaker


Ultra Sharp Stainless Peeler


Shell Cocktail Picks


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