Make a Raspberry Martini

A raspberry martini is a tasty variation of a traditional martini for those who prefer a fruitier cocktail. There are several ways to add the raspberry flavor to your martini, so whether you want to use fresh raspberries, raspberry infused vodka, or raspberry liqueur, you can wind up with a refreshing, berry-flavored cocktail whenever the mood strikes.

Ingredients

Raspberry Martini with Fresh Raspberries

  • 8 raspberries
  • ½ ounce (15 ml) grenadine
  • 1 ounce (30 ml) vodka
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • Ice

Raspberry Martini with Raspberry Flavored Vodka

  • 3 raspberries
  • ½ fresh squeezed lemon, juiced
  • 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) raspberry infused vodka
  • ½ ounce (15 ml) sweet vermouth
  • Ice
  • 3 raspberries, for garnish

Raspberry Martini with Raspberry Liqueur

  • 2 ounces (60 ml) raspberry vodka
  • 1 ounce (30 ml) Chambord or other raspberry liqueur
  • 1 ounce (30 ml) Triple Sec or other orange liqueur
  • ⅔ ounce (20 ml) cranberry juice
  • Fresh raspberries, for garnish
  • Crushed ice cubes

Steps

Making a Raspberry Martini with Fresh Raspberries

  1. Muddle the raspberries with the grenadine. Place 8 raspberries in a cocktail shaker with a ½ ounce (15 ml) of grenadine. Use a muddler to smash the berries with the liquid until they are completely pulverized. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes or so.[1]
    • You can use fresh or frozen raspberries that have been slightly thawed.
    • To ensure that the finished martini is properly chilled, it helps to put the shaker in the freezer for approximately half an hour before muddling the raspberries.
    • If you don’t have a muddler, you can use a thick wooden spoon or wooden meat pounder to crush the fruit and grenadine together.[2]
  2. Add the vodka, lemon juice, and ice, and mix well. Once you’ve muddled the raspberries and grenadine together, pour 1 ounce (30 ml) of good quality vodka and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of fresh lemon juice into the shaker. Add enough ice to fill the shaker, put the lid on it, and shake well to combine all of the ingredients.[1]
    • You’ll know that you’re finished shaking the martini when the outside of the shaker becomes frosty.
    • When you’re shaking the martini mixture together, make sure to keep your hands on the top and bottom of the shaker and not on the exterior itself. That will help keep the martini cold.
  3. Strain the martini into a glass. When the martini is fully mixed, place a cocktail strainer over the top of shaker, and strain the martini into a martini glass. If you desire, you can add a couple of fresh raspberries to the cocktail for garnish.[1]
    • Chill your martini glass in the freezer for approximately a half hour before pouring the martini into it.

Mixing Up a Raspberry Martini with Raspberry Flavored Vodka

  1. Muddle the raspberries with the lemon juice. Place three organic raspberries in a cocktail shaker with the juice from half of a fresh lemon. Use a muddler to smash the fruit and liquid together until the berries are completely crushed.[3]
    • You can substitute a thick wooden spoon or wooden meat tenderizer if you don’t have a muddler.
  2. Mix in the raspberry vodka, sweet vermouth, and ice, and shake. After you’ve muddled the berries, pour 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) of raspberry infused vodka and ½ ounce (15 ml) of sweet vermouth into the cocktail shaker. Next, add enough ice to fill the shaker, and shake the mixture together so all of the ingredients are fully combined.[3]
    • It helps to store your vodka in the freezer so it will be chilled when you add it to the cocktail shaker.
  3. Strain the martini into a glass and garnish with raspberries. Once the martini is completely mixed, use a cocktail strainer to strain it into a martini glass. Place 3 or so fresh raspberries on a cocktail skewer, and float it in the martini as a garnish.[3]
    • Chill your martini glass in the freezer for a half hour or so to help keep the cocktail cold.

Whipping Up a Raspberry Martini with Raspberry Liqueur

  1. Mix the ice, raspberry vodka, chambord, triple sec, and cranberry juice together. Fill a chilled cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Next, pour 2 ounces (60 ml) of raspberry vodka, 1 ounce (30 ml) of Chambord or another raspberry liqueur, 1 ounce (30 ml) of Triple Sec or another orange liqueur, and ⅔ ounce (20 ml) of cranberry juice into the shaker, and shake to fully combine in the ingredients, which should take approximately 30 to 40 seconds.[4]
    • If you don’t have raspberry flavored vodka, you can make your own by muddling three or four fresh raspberries in a glass and pouring 2 ounces (60 ml) of plain vodka over the fruit. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes or so for the flavors to meld.
  2. Strain the martini into a glass. Once the martini is fully combined, place a cocktail strainer over the top of the shaker and strain the martini into a chilled glass. Make sure not to allow any of the ice cubes into the glass.[4]
    • Chill your martini glass in the freezer for a half hour to keep your martini cold.
  3. Garnish the glass with a few raspberries. Take three or four fresh strawberries and place them on a cocktail skewer or toothpick. Set the skewer on the rim of the glass, and serve.[4]

Tips

  • Floating frozen raspberries in your martini can help keep the cocktail cold without watering it down the way that ice would.
  • For a sweet garnish, wet the rim of your martini glass with water and dip it into a shallow plate filled with granulated sugar before carefully pouring the cocktail into the glass.

Warnings

  • A fruit-flavored martini can taste more like a juice drink than an alcoholic cocktail, so exercising moderation is important.

Things You’ll Need

  • Cocktail shaker
  • Cocktail strainer
  • Muddler
  • Martini glass
  • Cocktail skewer or toothpick

Related Articles

  • Make a Wet Martini

Sources and Citations

You may like