Raspberry Martini
Muddle; Shake ∙ 4 min ∙ 26.8% ABV ∙
A Raspberry Martini muddles fresh raspberries with vodka, sugar syrup and orange bitters, then shakes and strains them up into a martini glass. Fine-strained to a silky, seedless finish, it's tart yet rounded, with a clean spirit backbone and just a whisper of savory depth on the palate.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In the base of the shaker, muddle: Fresh raspberries 7 pcs
- Add the remaining ingredients: Vodka 70 mlSugar syrup 10 mlOrange bitters 2 dashesSaline solution 1 dash
- Shake with ice
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a raspberry on a skewer
Tips
- Muddle the raspberries gently in the shaker base first, just enough to release juice without pulverizing the seeds bitter.
- Fine-strain thoroughly to catch the raspberry seeds and pulp, keeping the poured drink smooth and clear in the glass.
- Shake hard and briefly, since the muddled fruit needs a vigorous shake to fully integrate with the vodka before straining.
History
The Raspberry Martini is a modern, vodka-based offshoot of the Martini family built around muddled or pureed raspberries. One well-known version bearing this name was created by London bartender Dick Bradsell in 1997, though that recipe was built on gin and raspberry liqueur rather than vodka, making it a distinct drink from the vodka-forward, muddled-fruit style typical of today's Raspberry Martini. Beyond that gin-based cocktail, no single bartender, bar, or year is documented for the vodka version as it is now commonly served.
It belongs to the broader Citrus Martini lineage, vodka Martini variations built around fresh citrus or fruit juice and a touch of sweetener in place of vermouth, a format popularized in the 1990s cocktail revival as bartenders adapted the Martini glass and format to fruit-forward, shaken drinks. The Raspberry Martini follows that same template but swaps citrus juice for muddled raspberries as its defining flavor.
FAQ
What is a Raspberry Martini?
A Raspberry Martini is a vodka cocktail built from muddled fresh raspberries, vodka, sugar syrup, and a couple of dashes of orange bitters, shaken and fine-strained into a chilled martini glass. It is garnished with a raspberry and served up, without vermouth, making it a fruit-forward riff on the classic Martini rather than a true gin-and-vermouth Martini.
What is in a Raspberry Martini?
Fresh raspberries, vodka, sugar syrup, orange bitters, and often a dash of saline solution to round out the sweetness, muddled and shaken together. It is fine-strained into a chilled martini glass and finished with a raspberry garnish.
How do you make a raspberry cocktail like this one?
Muddle fresh raspberries in the base of a shaker, then add vodka, sugar syrup, and orange bitters and shake hard with ice. Fine-strain into a pre-chilled martini glass to leave the seeds and pulp behind, then garnish with a raspberry on a skewer.
Is a Raspberry Martini shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The muddled raspberries need the vigorous agitation of a shake to blend fully into the drink, and fine straining afterward keeps the texture smooth.
What glass is a Raspberry Martini served in?
A martini glass, pre-chilled and served up. Fine-straining keeps the raspberry seeds and pulp out of the glass for a clean, clear pour.
What is the best vodka for a raspberry martini?
A clean, neutral vodka works best, since the muddled raspberries are meant to carry the flavor rather than compete with a heavily flavored spirit.
Are a Lemon Drop and a Martini the same?
No, a Lemon Drop is a distinct vodka sour made with lemon juice and orange liqueur, often served with a sugared rim, while a Martini traditionally combines gin or vodka with vermouth. Both are served in the same stemmed glass, which is why the names get grouped together, but their ingredients and flavor profiles differ substantially.
