This raspberry martini cocktail, with fresh berries and lemon, is a refreshing, sweet drink bursting with flavour. It is made with unflavoured vodka and Triple Sec but can be adjusted easily to suit your taste using raspberry vodka or a splash of raspberry liqueur. The sweet summer flavours make it a perfect cocktail for sipping on the patio, but it is delicious any time of year.
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What is a Raspberry Martini?
A raspberry martini is a delicious berry cocktail with the bold, sweet flavour of fresh raspberries blended with tangy citrus. It is made with neutral, unflavoured vodka but can easily be replaced with your favourite raspberry vodka, or you can use a citrus vodka such as lemon or lime.
This cocktail is easy to make, and the fresh summer berries make it a perfect cocktail for sipping on the patio on a hot day.
This cocktail combines fresh muddled raspberries and raspberry simple syrup, giving it a strong berry flavour and deep red colour.
We strongly recommend making simple syrup, but you can use a store-bought raspberry drink syrup if you lack time or energy. However, these syrups are often extra sweet and tend to have an artificial flavour, affecting the outcome of your cocktail.
If you don’t have time to make homemade simple syrup, then a store-bought unflavoured syrup will work; add extra berries or a splash of raspberry juice to ensure enough raspberry flavour. You want this martini to taste just like freshly picked berries.
Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Raspberries – Fresh raspberries are used in this recipe, but if they are not in season, you can use frozen berries as long as you thaw them first.
- Raspberry Simple Syrup – Raspberry simple syrup is easy to make at home; you only need raspberries, water, and sugar. You can use a store-bought raspberry drink syrup if you like. However, they tend to be sweeter and more artificial tasting. If you don’t want to make raspberry simple syrup, you can use regular simple syrup and add raspberry juice or extra fresh raspberries instead.
- Vodka – This martini is made with unflavoured vodka. However, you can use flavoured vodka if that is what you prefer. Raspberry vodka is a good choice, but this martini also works well with citrus vodkas such as lemon, lime, or orange.
- Triple Sec – The subtle orange flavour in the Triple Sec helps balance the flavour and adds a touch of sweetness. You can use any orange liqueur that you prefer.
- Lemon Juice– Lemon juice adds a bit of acidity and helps balance the berries’ sweetness. It also brings all the flavours together. Try to use fresh lemon juice if possible.
- Ice – You will need a handful or two of ice to shake and chill the martini.
Step by Step Instructions
This martini comes together quickly with just a few simple steps.
One – Add a handful of raspberries to a cocktail shaker, then use a muddler or the back of a spoon to press the raspberries and release their juices.
Two – Add the vodka, triple sec, lemon juice and raspberry simple syrup to the cocktail shaker, then top with ice. Replace the lid, then shake until the outside of the shaker is frosty and cold.
Three – Strain the shaken martini into two martini glasses.
Four – Garnish as desired with fresh lemon wedges and raspberries. Alternatively, you can run a wedge of lemon around the rim of the glass and dip it in sugar for a sugared rim.
Substitutions & Variations
There are a few ways you can customize this drink to suit your preferences or adjust to what you have on hand.
- Vodka – Unflavoured vodka is recommended, but you can use flavoured vodka. Raspberry vodka adds extra berry flavour, but this martini works well with citrus-flavoured vodkas such as lemon, lime, or orange.
- Simple Syrup – This recipe tastes best with homemade raspberry simple syrup, but a store-bought raspberry drink syrup will work. They tend to be sweeter and more artificial tasting, so you will likely have to adjust it to suit your taste. If you don’t want to make simple syrup, use an unflavoured store-bought simple syrup and add raspberry juice or extra fresh raspberries to the martini.
- Triple Sec – Any orange liqueur will work if you don’t have Triple Sec.
- Raspberry Liqueur – Add an extra punch of raspberry flavour, and increase the alcohol content by reducing the measurement of simple syrup and replacing it with an equal measure of raspberry liqueur.
Equipment
While you don’t need anything other than something to shake the cocktail and a couple of glasses, some things will make your cocktail experience more enjoyable.
Cocktail shaker – A cocktail shaker will help you mix your drinks quickly while chilling them. There are many styles to choose from, and you don’t need anything fancy. One of my favourites is a mason jar style shaker, and if you don’t have a proper cocktail shaker, a mason jar with a lid will work too.
Muddler – A muddler will help you squash the raspberries, helping them to release their delicious juice into the martini. If you don’t have a muddler, you can use a fork or the back of a spoon.
Martini glasses – You don’t need anything fancy, but proper martini glasses will make this drink extra pretty. You can use stemmed martini glasses or stemless martini glasses. A short cocktail glass will work fine if you don’t have a martini glass.
Jigger – A jigger will allow you to measure your ingredients precisely. It is small and designed to measure and pour the smaller quantities generally used in cocktails. You can use a small measuring cup or glass if you don’t have a jigger.
Cocktail picks – Cocktail picks are not essential but will allow you to add fun garnishes without falling to the glass’s bottom.
Top Tips & FAQS
If you are serving this drink to a crowd and want to make it ahead, add everything, except the ice, to a large pitcher and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add ice to a cocktail shaker and add the desired amount of mixed drink. Shake and serve.
More Martini Recipes
Printable Recipe
Raspberry Martini
Ingredients
- ¼ cup raspberries or more if you like
- 3 oz unflavoured vodka
- 1 oz Triple Sec
- 2 oz raspberry simple syrup
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ice
Raspberry Simple Syrup
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Place the raspberries in a cocktail shaker. Press the raspberries to release their juices using a muddler or the back of a spoon.
- Add the vodka, triple sec, simple syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker, then add a handful or two of ice.
- Place the lid on the shaker and shake until frosty and cold.
- Pour the drink into two martini glasses and garnish with lemon wedges and fresh berries.
Raspberry Simple Syrup
- Place the raspberries, sugar, and water in a medium size pot.
- Heat over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Press the berries with a spoon to help them release their juice.
- Remove the syrup from the stove and let it cool in the pot.
- Once the syrup is cool, strain it through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Store it in a jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Makes approximately one and a half cups of syrup.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.