If your'e going to make a martini, pick one...gin or vodka. If it's gin, ditch the gordon's and go for Bombay Sapphire. For vodka, I prefer the potato vodkas...currently Chopin is my favorite. As far as vermouth is concerned, leave it in the bottle, or at most get a mister and give the shaker a small spray. I prefer 3 jalapeno-stuffed olives, but if a lemon twist is your thing, make sure to rub the rind on the edge of the glass and twist the oil into the drink.
The lemon oil is flammable, so for a real party trick, light the oil as you twist it into the drink.