Mandarintini
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 19.7% ABV ∙
The Mandarintini shakes citron vodka with Mandarine Napoléon liqueur, a red bitter and unsweetened apple cider, served up. Cold and silky with a bittersweet edge, the mandarin liqueur's brightness fades into a crisp, faintly tart apple finish that lingers pleasantly on the palate.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Citron vodka 45 mlMandarine Napoléon liqueur 15 mlRed bitter 10 mlApple cider (unsweetened) 45 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with an orange slice
Tips
- Pre-chill the Martini glass before straining so the drink stays cold without extra dilution.
- Fine-strain after shaking to keep any ice shards out of the glass for a silky, clear pour.
- Shake hard and briefly — the cider and bitter need a quick chill, not prolonged aeration that dulls the citrus.
History
The Mandarintini is a citrus-forward martini variation built on orange or citron vodka and Mandarine Napoléon, a Belgian mandarin-and-cognac liqueur first marketed in 1892. Documentation of the cocktail itself is thin: the recipe is described as adapted from a drink discovered in 2005 at Aqua Spirit, a cocktail bar and lounge in Hong Kong. No earlier or independent origin account for the drink has surfaced, so its history rests on that single sourced note rather than a widely corroborated creation story.
FAQ
What is in a Mandarintini?
A Mandarintini is made of citron vodka, Mandarine Napoléon liqueur, a red bitter such as Campari, and unsweetened apple cider, shaken and fine-strained into a chilled Martini glass with an orange slice garnish.
How strong is a Mandarintini?
A Mandarintini is about 19.7% ABV, lighter than a classic spirit-forward Martini since the apple cider and shaking add dilution and volume.
