Martini Sets

Get the coolest Martini sets and impress your guests.

Shaken or stirred? We all know that James Bond always liked his shaken, but regular people just like you and me and have been enjoying the taste of a delicious martini for well over a hundred years.

Supposedly invented by a bartender in Martinez, California during the Gold Rush, this drink of two ounces Gin and half an ounce dry vermouth, mixed, then served straight up (without ice) with a green olive garnish, has just gotten more and more popular over the years.

They're ordered more than ever these days, so you might want to consider have you're very own personal martini set on hand. Not to mention that martini sets are a wonderful Christmas gift for you martini loving friends.

Depending on who you're purchasing it for, martini sets come in all sorts of different styles. The most popular being either glass or metal. But what exactly comes in a martini set? Well it really depends on whether you want a “shaken” set or a “stirred” set.

A shaken set will come with a cocktail shaker. This is a device used to mix your martini by shaking it. When ice is put in the shaker this allows for a quicker cooling of the drink before serving.

It usually comes with a base, a top and a strainer (to keep the ice out of the finished martini. A stirred set will come with a tall pitcher and long, thin spoon to stir the martini before pouring it into the glass. Ah, the glass!

Martini sets also come with martini glasses. A martini glass is a stemmed glass, typically about 250 ml, which has a cone-shaped bowl placed upon a stem above a flat base.

As with other stemwear, the stem allows the drinker to hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the drink, which is very important when drinking a martini.

Another variation is the double martini glass which is even taller and wider at the opening than a standard martini glass, thus making the drink larger

And those are really the only pieces that make up martini sets. A shaker or a pitcher (with its stirring spoon) and martini glasses. Your creativity comes into play when decided the right style or design for your set.

All crisp and clear glass, or perhaps a shiny metal set. Uber modern, or a fun kitschy set from the 1950's? Elegant or risque? There are dozens of options to choose from that should fit your style and taste.

You can get some cool glasses at Zappos and at Pier 1.