Perfect Martini
A glass of gin or vodka is not a martini.
A good vermouth adds character and can help remove some of the rough edges from gin.
personally I like 5-6 parts Tanqueray to 1 part Noily Prattt. And stirring with ice adds just a tiny bit of water which can smooth some the the alcohol edge.
Try experimenting with brands of gin and the amount of vermouth until you reach your own perfect martini.
Jeff