Shaken or stirred; unique martini glasses

The world of martinis conjures up images of the 1950's rat pack and smoke-filled lounges. It's also the latest trend in entertaining, both in martini bars and at home. The variety of new drinks being created grows every day. So, now the martini glass has transformed from a simple, clear glass to colorful and vibrant. At ClassicHostess.com, we remain on the cutting edge in providing the latest in unique martini glasses and water pitchers. Whether you like yours shaken or stirred, they'll look fabulous in our glassware! See the tips below on making the perfect martini.

You've had your first martini and loved it! Now you want to serve them to your guests, but do you know what to buy? Let us help you make the leap with a gorgeous martini glass set and coordinating table top accessories. We've asked our manufacturers to provide us with top quality, unique martini glasses and accessories, and they have delivered. Stylish, colorful and tasteful are just some of their attributes. But, as you'll see below in "Making the Perfect Martini", we've covered all the bases when it comes to preparing your next cocktail.

While making a martini is based on personal taste more than skill, the following tips will guide you in your quest for the perfect martini!

• Only use fresh, clean ice so you taste only the ingredients and not old or dirty ice
• Keep all of your tools and glasses in the freezer until you are ready to mix so everything is very cold
• Use clean tools and be sure to rinse your "equipment" between each type of martini
• Spend the extra money on quality glass or stainless steel shakers and tools for the best tasting martinis
• When mixing your martinis, shake gently and quickly to not dilute your drink with broken ice shards or melted ice
• If using olives, be sure to rinse them under water before putting them in your drink to prevent clouding
• Finally, buy the best ingredients possible; they make all the difference in taste