Pineapple and Cardamom Martini

Name: Pineapple and Cardamom Martini
Prep time: 4 min
Total time: 4 min
Yield: 1 serving
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: Green cardamom pods — 3 pcs; Vodka — 60 ml (2 oz); Pineapple juice — 45 ml (1 1/2 oz); Sugar syrup — 10 ml (1/3 oz)

Muddle; Shake ∙ 4 min ∙ 16.9% ABV ∙

The Pineapple and Cardamom Martini muddles cardamom with vodka, pineapple juice and sugar syrup, shaken and strained up into a martini glass. Fine-strained silky-smooth with a clean spirit backbone, the muddled pods lend a warm, peppery lift that lingers behind the fruity sweetness on the finish.

Ingredients

Servings

Garnish

Pineapple wedge

Instructions for 1 serving

Pre-chill a glass
In the base of the shaker, muddle: Green cardamom pods 3 pcs
Add the remaining ingredients
Vodka 60 mlPineapple juice 45 mlSugar syrup 10 ml
Shake with ice and fine strain into the chilled glass
Garnish with a pineapple wedge

Tips

Pre-chill the martini glass so the drink doesn't lose its snap before it's served.
Shake hard and fine-strain to keep cardamom husk and pulp out of the finished glass.

History

The Pineapple and Cardamom Martini is credited to English bartender Henry Besant, who created it in 2002 at The Lonsdale, the Notting Hill cocktail bar he ran in London. Besant had trained under Dick Bradsell at the Chelsea bar Dome before taking charge of The Lonsdale, which won back-to-back Time Out Bar of the Year awards in 2003 and 2004 under his management. The drink pairs muddled green cardamom pods with pineapple juice and vodka in a vodka martini format, part of the wave of fruit- and spice-infused "martini" riffs that emerged from London's cocktail scene in the early 2000s.

FAQ

Does cardamom go well with pineapple?

Yes, cardamom's warm, citrusy spice pairs well with pineapple's sweetness, which is why the pods are muddled first in this martini, before the pineapple juice and vodka go into the shaker.

What is a martini with pineapple juice called?

This one is a Pineapple and Cardamom Martini, made by muddling cardamom pods before shaking and straining into a chilled martini glass.

Which alcohol goes best with pineapple?

Vodka is a classic match since its clean, neutral profile lets the pineapple's sweetness and any added spice come through, as in this cardamom-spiced pineapple martini.