For parties of more than about six, the martini's not the most practical drink. All that laborious icing and stirring needs a bit of a rethink. Rather than preparing martinis à la minute, consider ...

Make the pickled onions: Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil over high. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender-crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.

Once in a while, we all feel like James Bond and enjoy a perfect martini drink. Classic cocktails that we love and want. But ...