The Captain's Martini – Gin, Dry Vermouth and White Crème de Menthe Cocktail

The Captain's Martini combines gin, dry vermouth, and white crème de menthe for a cool, herbal cocktail with a distinct mint finish. Gin provides the botanical backbone, while the mint liqueur adds sweetness without changing the drink's clear appearance.

Mint in a Spirit-Forward Build

Half an ounce of white crème de menthe is enough to make mint a defining flavor, but the larger gin measure keeps the cocktail from turning into a dessert drink. Dry vermouth adds another herbal layer between the two.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Gin – provides the botanical spirit base.
• Dry vermouth – adds restrained herbal wine notes.
• White crème de menthe – supplies mint flavor and sweetness without green coloring.

Green crème de menthe has a similar mint flavor but changes the appearance substantially, so white is the better fit here.

Equipment

Use a mixing glass, bar spoon, jigger, strainer, and chilled cocktail glass.

Why White Crème de Menthe

The clear liqueur keeps the drink visually closer to a Martini while still delivering a full mint aroma. That makes the flavor surprising without changing the glass into a bright green cocktail.

Substitutions & Variations

Reduce the crème de menthe to a quarter ounce for a drier, more gin-forward version. A lemon twist can add a brighter aromatic finish.

Helpful Tips

Stir rather than shake to keep the drink clear and silky. Serve it very cold, and measure the crème de menthe carefully because its sweetness and mint intensity can take over quickly.