This Strawberry Martini combines the flavor of fresh, ripe strawberries with smooth, crisp vodka to create a fruit-forward twist on a classic cocktail.
A classic martini combines gin or vodka, vermouth, and a green olive or lemon twist. We used vodka and swapped out the bitter complexity of vermouth for the sweet and sour pop of fresh strawberry.
While it's not 100% traditional, this strawberry martini is a great choice for those seeking a less intense, more approachable alternative to a typical martini.
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Why We Love This Recipe
- Great for any season: Strawberries are in season in the summer, but they're available year round, making this drink a perfect choice for hot summer days, but also for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner.
- More approachable than the classic: Not everyone is fan of classic martinis, which are typically quite strong, so this strawberry martini is a great way to enjoy a fruitier, less intense martini.
- Looks great: Thanks to the strawberry simple syrup, this cocktail is visually stunning, with a bright red color that matches its vibrant strawberry flavor.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this strawberry martini:
Ingredient Notes
- Vodka: Gin is typical in a classic martini, but Vodka has been gaining a lot of popularity. We used vodka here, but if you want a little bit of botanical flavor, gin is a fine choice.
- Strawberry liqueur: Strawberry liqueur can be a bit hard to find, but there are products made by Fragola and and Drillaud. Luckily, raspberry liqueur is a great substitute and Chambord is a great strawberry liqueur substitute. In a pinch, you could also use an orange liqueur like Contreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec.
- Strawberries: Fresh are best, but we certainly won't judge if you make the strawberry simple syrup with frozen strawberries.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeezed always tastes best in cocktails!
- Strawberry simple syrup: We homemake a batch for this cocktail using the sugar, water and strawberries. If you'd like to skip this step, brands like Monin, DaVinci, and Amoretti make strawberry syrups that you can find at the store. You can sub them in 1-for-1 for our strawberry simple syrup.
How to Make a Strawberry Martini
STEP 1: Make the Strawberry Simple Syrup
Add the water, sugar, and strawberries to a small saucepan over medium high heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes.
Mash the berries into a pulp, then remove from heat and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. Mash again to release as much juice from the strawberries as possible.
STEP 2: Strain the simple syrup into a small bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press the mixture through a small fine mesh sieve until you've extracted all the liquid.
STEP 3: Add vodka, strawberry liqueur, strawberry simple syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker half filled with ice.
STEP 4: Shake for 10 seconds.
STEP 5: Pour the mixture into two glasses and garnish with a fresh strawberry slices or strawberry rose.
Make it for a Crowd
To make this strawberry martini for a crowd, multiply the stated quantities in the recipe card to accommodate the size of your pitcher or punch bowl. As is, this recipe makes 2 cocktails.
Add all of your ingredients directly to your punch bowl or pitcher, stir together, and chill until you're ready to serve. Place your martini glasses in the freezer or fridge, and when you're ready to serve, pour individual portions into each glass and enjoy!
Variations
- Strawberry basil martini: Add a few basil leaves to the bottom of the cocktail shaker before adding the other ingredients, and muddle gently. Then follow the recipe as it to create a refreshing strawberry basil martini.
- Strawberry mint martini: Replace the fruit liqueur with a mint-flavored liqueur, or muddle a few mint leaves in the cocktail shaker before adding your liquid ingredients and shaking.
- Sparkling strawberry martini: Leave a bit of room in your cocktail glasses, and top each cocktail with a splash of sparkling water, tonic water, or club soda.
- Non alcoholic strawberry martini: To make this a mocktail, omit the vodka and fruit liqueur and replace them with a splash of your favorite fruit juice or club soda.
- If you're feeling ambitious, you can take the strawberry flavor to another level by using our guide on how to infuse liquors and making strawberry-infused vodka.
Tips and FAQs
- Use a good-quality vodka and fruit liqueur, as their flavor will shine through in the finished drink.
- Be sure to strain your simple syrup thoroughly to prevent any seeds from making it into your finished strawberry martini.
- Feel free to use raspberry or orange liqueur in place of strawberry liqueur.
- Short on time? You can find pre-made strawberry syrups in stores or online.
- Add more strawberry flavor: If you don't mind a bit of strawberry pulp, feel free to muddle 2 or 3 strawberries in the bottom of your cocktail shaker.
- Too sweet for your tastes? Squeeze a little more lime in to the cocktail to balance it out, or cut down on the syrup.
- Chill your glasses: Place your glasses in the freezer while you prepare the cocktail so that it stays cold while you drink it.
- Garnish: Make a strawberry rose by following these simple steps, or use a bit of lime peel to make a lime twist for your strawberry martini.
You can add frozen strawberries directly to the saucepan when you're making the strawberry simple syrup.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, strawberry simple syrup will last for about 2 weeks.
Sure, you can use a mason jar or another jar with a lid instead of a cocktail shaker. Just make sure the lid is on securely before you start shaking.
More Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy
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Print📖 Recipe
Strawberry Martini
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Strawberry Martini combines the flavor of fresh, ripe strawberries with smooth, crisp vodka to create a fruit-forward twist on a classic cocktail.
Ingredients
Cocktail:
- 3 fl oz vodka
- 1 fl oz raspberry or strawberry liqueur
- 2 fl oz strawberry simple syrup (recipe below)
- ½ fl oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 fresh strawberries for garnish
Strawberry simple syrup (makes 4 fl oz):
- 6 oz diced strawberries (a heaping ½ cup)
- ⅓ cup water
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Add the water, sugar, and strawberries to a small saucepan over medium high heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Mash the berries into a pulp, then remove from heat and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. Mash again to release as much juice from the strawberries as possible.
- Strain the simple syrup into a small bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press the mixture through a small fine mesh sieve until you've extracted all the liquid.
- Add vodka, strawberry liqueur, strawberry simple syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake for 10 seconds. Strain the mixture between two glasses.
Notes
Makes 2 cocktails.
1 fl oz = ~30mL
Be sure to strain your simple syrup thoroughly to prevent any seeds from making it into your finished cocktail.
Feel free to use raspberry or orange liqueur in place of strawberry liqueur.
Short on time? You can find pre-made strawberry syrups in stores or online.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It may vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Shaker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 23.8 g
- Sodium: 3.3 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24.9 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
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