The Freezer Martini: A Classic Reinvented

There’s something timeless about a martini. It is elegant, confident, and simple. But like most great classics, the story behind it is deeper than it appears in the glass.

A Look Back: Where the Martini Came From

The martini made its first real appearance in the late 1800s, evolving from earlier cocktails that combined gin, vermouth, and bitters. It was originally a more balanced drink, closer to a 2:1 or even 1:1 ratio of spirit to vermouth. The drink was bright, aromatic, and layered.

Over time, as spirits became cleaner and bartending trends shifted, vermouth slowly started disappearing from the glass. “Dry” martinis became drier and drier until the vermouth was often just waved near the glass or joked about rather than poured. What was once a balanced cocktail turned into a chilled glass of straight vodka or gin.

That shift took away some of the complexity and character that made the martini iconic.

Now the industry is waking back up to the truth: vermouth matters.

Vermouth Belongs in a Martini

Vermouth brings elegance, structure, and botanical depth. It softens the alcohol heat and gives the drink a real finish. When paired properly with high-quality vodka, it creates harmony. The best bartenders in the world know this. That is why the classic ratios like 3:1 or even 4:1 are making a comeback.

A great martini always starts with great ingredients. That means great vodka. That means great vermouth.

Pre-Batching: Industry Pros Have Been Doing This for Years

Behind the bar, speed and consistency are everything. Bartenders have been pre-batching martinis for a long time. They know that measuring, stirring, and chilling each one individually slows down service and creates inconsistency. So they batch in advance, store them on ice or in the freezer, and pour to order.

The public is only just starting to realize it. Pre-batching isn’t cutting corners. It is how the best bars in the world deliver perfect cocktails at high volume.

So Why Aren’t Freezer Martinis Everywhere?

Because most ready-to-drink martinis cut corners. They use sugar, syrups, flavorings, or stabilizers to keep the cocktail from freezing. Or they water it down to the point where it is no longer a true martini. The result is a drink that tastes flat and inconsistent.

We wanted to solve that.

Enter Zakuska Freezer Martini

We built our freezer martini the way professionals do: with purpose, simplicity, and respect for the cocktail.

Three ingredients:

• Zakuska Vodka

• Method Dry Vermouth

• Fee Brothers Orange Bitters

That’s it. No sugar. No syrups. No artificial flavoring. No stabilizers.

We dialed in the ratio to give you a true martini with real body and character, and we proofed it to just under 30 percent alcohol so it is bar strength, authentic, and still stays liquid in your freezer.

Store it at 0°F. It will not freeze. It pours with a silky texture, fully chilled. And unlike a shaken martini that waters down over time, each sip tastes exactly the same from first to last.

Why Vodka Quality Matters

A lot of “martini” products start with mediocre vodka and try to hide it. For us, the vodka is the foundation. Zakuska Vodka is unfiltered to keep the natural character of the grain, with subtle notes of vanilla, honey, fig, and spice. Those flavors give structure and depth to the martini without overwhelming it.

A great martini always starts with a great vodka. And a great vermouth.

Why We Chose Method Vermouth

Method Dry Vermouth is clean, herbal, floral, and beautifully balanced. It is the kind of vermouth bartenders actually respect. When blended with Zakuska Vodka, it brings the martini back to what it was always meant to be: a real cocktail, not just cold alcohol in a glass.

Why Our Freezer Martini Works for Real Life

Some nights, you want to shake and stir and play bartender. Other nights, you just want a perfect martini without the work.

After a long day, pour it straight from the freezer and enjoy. No equipment. No mess. No effort.

When entertaining, you can make six martinis in under 30 seconds. Every pour is identical. Every pour tastes like it came from a high-end bar.

Tradition Meets Convenience

The martini has always been about ritual, but rituals can evolve. Our freezer martini keeps the quality and the history, but brings modern convenience. Classic technique. Real ingredients. Better execution.

Vodka, vermouth, bitters.
Nothing to hide.
Everything to enjoy.