Vodka Martinis may be popular, but if you want a true Martini it should be made with gin. Despite vodka's popularity, most cocktail aficionados would agree that the best Martini recipe is a gin Martini recipe. Looking into the history books for the origins of the Martini will reveal a similar story: the earliest recognizable Martini recipes, from Italy and the United States, all call for gin. Favoring vodka over gin isn't the only thing that's changed over time -- early recipes were much heavier on the Vermouth. The Best Martini Ingredients: Need the right gin? See our picks for the best gins for Martinis! Need the right vermouth? See our picks for the best dry vermouth for Martinis! Not a gin drinker? Here's our vodka Martini recipe.