How to make the perfect martini

“Bartenders tend to think of that style of martini – where you shake it, rather than stir it – as being incorrect,” said Hannah Lanfear of Jensen’s Gin. “So when people walk into a cocktail bar and say ‘I’d like to order a shaken martini,’ we sort of cringe a little bit.”

According to Ms. Lanfear, proper martinis must be stirred. And as long as you can follow this simple direction, you’ll be well on your way to making the perfect cocktail. All you need to do is grab three ingredients and follow these instructions:

Add the first two ingredients to a frozen mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir for two minutes, until the ice is slightly diluted and the mixture is extremely cold. The aim is to get the coldest drink possible without the cocktail becoming watery. Finally, garnish with a twist of orange.

To see how to strike the perfect balance, watch Ms. Lanfear mix a martini at the Design Museum’s Blueprint café.