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Join the Wildbrumby ClubCelebrate World Martini Day with a Schnappy-tini
Some cocktails are drinks. Some are rituals. The Martini is both.
Cold glass, clear spirit, a little theatre, and just enough attitude to make everyone at the bar have an opinion. Gin or vodka? Lemon twist or olive? Wet, dry, dirty, shaken, stirred — vermouth free?
This week, we’re raising a glass to World Martini Day, but because we do things a little differently here in the Snowy Mountains, we’re calling it World Schnappy-tini Day.
At wildbrumby, our Martinis have a mountain accent. We still love the classics, but we also like to bring in a little schnapps, a little alpine fruit, and a little winter character.
And with the winter solstice arriving this weekend, it feels like the perfect time for a cold, sharp, elegant drink while the nights are at their longest.
Our Martini Story
A Martini is one of those drinks where the story is almost as important as the drink itself.
Its origins are a little hazy, which feels appropriate for something so sharply debated. Many trace it back to the Martinez — a 19th-century mix of gin, vermouth and bitters. Over time, it evolved into something cleaner and more precise, eventually becoming the Martini we know today.
By the early 20th century, it had become a symbol of refinement: simple ingredients, endless interpretation.
A classic Martini is typically gin and dry vermouth, stirred over ice and served very cold. From there, everything becomes personal. Some prefer a whisper of vermouth. Others prefer almost none at all.
Winston Churchill famously leaned toward the extreme dry end of the spectrum — a Martini so dry that vermouth was more idea than ingredient. One story even claims he simply acknowledged vermouth by glancing toward France while pouring his gin.
Then came James Bond, who added drama with his “shaken, not stirred” order and the iconic Vesper Martini in *Casino Royale*, combining gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet with cinematic flair.
Between Churchill’s restraint and Bond’s spectacle lies the Martini’s true identity: endlessly adaptable, deeply personal, and always a little theatrical.
At wildbrumby, we take that spirit and give it an alpine twist — a little fruit, a little schnapps, and a lot of mountain character.
Easy Schnappy-tini Recipes
Classic Gin Martini
Prep time: 3 minutes
Style: Crisp & classic
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
- 60 ml wildbrumby Classic Gin
- 10 ml dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive, to garnish
Method
- Add gin and vermouth to a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
- Stir until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe.
- Garnish with a lemon twist or olive.
For a very dry Martini, reduce the vermouth. For the Churchill approach, simply let the gin acknowledge vermouth exists.
Distiller’s Favourite: The Gibson Martini
Our distiller’s favourite — a savoury twist on the classic Martini.
Prep time: 3 minutes
Style: Dry & savoury
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
- 60 ml wildbrumby Classic Gin
- 15 ml dry vermouth
- 1 cocktail onion, to garnish
Method
- Add gin and vermouth to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until icy cold.
- Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe.
- Garnish with a cocktail onion.
Clean, elegant and quietly savoury — a Martini with personality.
Sour Apple Martini
Bright, sharp and a little cheeky — an alpine twist on a modern favourite.
Prep time: 3 minutes
Style: Fruity & sharp
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
- 45 ml wildbrumby Kosciuszko Vodka
- 45 ml wildbrumby Sour Apple Schnapps
- Apple slice or lemon twist, to garnish
Method
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir well.
- Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe.
- Garnish with apple or lemon.
Fresh, lively and perfect for anyone who likes a Martini with alpine bite.
Espresso Martini
Dark, smooth and made for long winter nights.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Style: Rich & bold
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
- 30 ml wildbrumby Kosciuszko Vodka
- 30 ml wildbrumby Coffee Liqueur
- 30 ml fresh espresso
- Coffee beans, to garnish
Method
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard until cold and foamy.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish with coffee beans.
The Martini for after dinner, after skiing, or after “just one drink.”
Alpine Vesper
Our Snowy Mountains nod to Bond’s iconic Vesper — strong, elegant and unmistakably wildbrumby.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Style: Strong & alpine
Skill level: Intermediate
Ingredients
- 30 ml wildbrumby Classic Gin
- 30 ml wildbrumby Kosciuszko Vodka
- 30 ml wildbrumby Apricot Schnapps
- Orange twist, to garnish
Method
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake until very cold.
- Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe.
- Garnish with a citrus twist.
The Classic Gin gives structure, vodka brings clarity, and apricot schnapps adds alpine softness.
A Martini for the Longest Night
The Martini has travelled a long way — from early cocktail bars to movie sets, debates, variations, and reinventions.
Here in the mountains, we like it with a little more character.
So this World Martini Day, whether you prefer yours classic, savoury, fruity, strong, or schnappy with an alpine edge, raise a glass to winter, long nights, and doing things a little differently.
More Easy Cocktail Recipes
Looking for more easy cocktail recipes? Explore more Wildbrumby cocktail ideas or visit our Snowy Mountains distillery.