Raspberry Martini

A clean, beautiful, yet still classic fruit infused martini.

Will the real Martini please stand up?

When it comes to Martinis, Kinnon and Chris tend to be pretty strict in it's definition: a martini is gin or vodka based with a fortified wine and possibly some brine if making it dirty. However there are many "martinis" in the world of cocktails that don't follow these guidelines - why?

Clockwise from top: dry vermouth, fresh raspberries, lavender bitters, and gin.

The name "martini" has come to be defined as, really, any cocktail served in a 60's martini style glass - the ones that look like a wide cone with the point ending at the stem. Therefore, the beverage served in it does not necessarily match a martini recipe. Many modern "martini's" are really just sours or daisies. For example,

  • Lemon Drop Martini: Actually a daisy.
  • Cosmopolitans: Also a daisy.
  • Bees Knees: Actually a sour, though often served in a martini glass.

If you want to maintain the original identity of your martini, you should only make them with spirits or liqueurs, and no citrus (Even a vesper is only garnished with expressed lemon peel). However, if you do want an element of fruit in your cocktail, infusing your base spirit with that fruit is a great workaround. In fact, that's exactly what we did with this, and it produced a subtle yet clean flavor, as well as a beautiful rose pink tint to the cocktail.

However here's the thing - make whatever you want! We love a lemon drop or a bees knees, and a citrus flavored cocktail is delicious. We believe it's important to be specific about what we are making, simply because it makes for better final results. It would be tough for us to find the silky, clean flavor of a martini if we are adding lemon juice and simple syrup to it, however its not difficult at all to find the bright, fruity flavor of a daisy in these same ingredients. Specificity is a tool that can be used to make things better with fewer mistakes, saving you money and delighting your pallet.

How to make it

Infuse some Gin

First, take your Raspberries, give them a wash, then add them to a jar with some gin. Let this infuse for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, this gin will have a lovely but gentle raspberry flavor.
The color of the gin after infusing was incredible.

The next day, strain out the solids and set it aside.

Make a Martini

Add the gin, vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.

Gin is added to the mixing glass.
Vermouth is added next, followed by lavender bitters.

Stir well until well chilled and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Stirring until thoroughly chilled.
The cocktail is double strained.

Garnish the drink with a raspberry, and enjoy!

The way the light hits the table through the drink is so nice.
Time to cook
24 Hours
Difficulty Level
Easy
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Raspberry Martini

Published on:
March 21, 2025
Time to Cook:
24 Hours
Serves:
1
Ingredients

For the Raspberry Gin:

  • 1/4 cup raspberries
  • 5 oz Gin

For the Raspberry Martini:

  • 2 1/2 oz raspberry gin
  • 1/2 oz dry vermouth
  • 3 dashes lavender bitters
Equipment
  • Jar
  • Mixing glass
  • Hawthorne strainer
  • Mesh strainer
  • Barspoon
  • Coupe glass
  • Ice
Steps

For the Raspberry Gin:

  1. Add the raspberries and gin to a jar or similar container and allow to infuse for 24 hours.
  2. Strain out the solids and set aside.

For the Raspberry Martini:

  1. Add the gin, vermouth, and bitters to a mxing glass with ice.
  2. Stir until well-chilled and double-strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  3. Garnish with a raspberry and enjoy.