The Martini is one of the world’s most loved cocktails and in celebration of World Martini Day, today we are marking the special occasion with our top 5 Gin Martini recipes.
The classic Martini cocktail is easy to make and only requires two ingredients, gin and vermouth, however it can be served in a variety of ways. These variations include dry or wet, olive or a twist and shaken or stirred. The cocktail can also be served on the rocks (with ice), dirty (made with olive juice or brine) or in a Gibson (served with a cocktail onion).
Whether you’re a Martini aficionado or a newcomer, World Martini Day is a great excuse to enjoy all things Martini!
1. CLASSIC MARTINI (featuring Highclere Castle Gin)
Notable botanicals of the gin: Orange peel, lime, cardamom, lavender, juniper
The award-winning Highclere Castle Gin is crafted using hand-picked botanicals grown in the castle’s English Gardens, and features a blend of traditional botanicals as well as herbs, citrus and floral botanicals, such as lavender. It has been made famous by the enormously popular TV drama Downton Abbey and showcases the height of gin sophistication, with its perfectly balanced flavour providing a glorious taste sensation for all gin lovers.
CLASSIC MARTINI RECIPE
50ml Highclere Castle Gin
10ml Dry Vermouth
Dash of Orange Bitters (optional)
3-4 Olives (optional)
Lemon peel (optional)
Fill a mixing glass with ice, then add the ingredients over the ice and give it a good stir. Double strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a verdant green olive or lemon twist.
2. THE PERFECT MARTINI (featuring Sipsmith London Dry)
Notable botanicals of the gin: Juniper berries, coriander seed, angelica root, ground almond, cassia bark, cinnamon, orange peel, lemon peel
Sipsmith London Dry is a smooth and characterful gin distilled with ten botanicals carefully selected from around the globe. Hand crafted in small batches using only the finest ingredients, it is the quintessential expression of a classic London Dry style. The flavour profile features notes of orange zest, honey blossom and piney juniper followed by a rich and warm finish of cinnamon, cassia and liquorice root.
THE PERFECT MARTINI RECIPE
3 parts Sipsmith London Dry
1 part Dry Vermouth
Fresh Lemon Peel
Fill a mixing glass with large ice cubes, then add the vermouth and stir for a few seconds. Strain into a chilled Martini glass. Add the gin to the ice-filled mixing glass and stir briskly for about 50 turns. Strain into the glass. Finally twist the lemon peel over the drink, so it’s perfumed with the citric oils, and serve immediately.
3. ELDERFLOWER & MINT MARTINI (featuring The Botanist Gin)
Notable botanicals of the gin: Apple mint, bog myrtle, chamomile, cinnamon, gorse flowers, hawthorn, juniper, lady’s bedstraw flowers, wood sage
This world-class gin hails from the Bruichladdich Distillery on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. Well-crafted and complex, The Botanist Gin features a huge 31 botanicals in total and offers a range of tasting notes from floral to herbal. On the palette, this gin is quite delicate with a beautiful mix of mint, sweet and floral aromas. Its layered complexity and smooth texture makes it perfect for a martini.
ELDERFLOWER & MINT MARTINI RECIPE
50ml The Botanist Gin
10ml Dry Vermouth
5ml Elderflower Liqueur (such as St Germain)
Sprig of Mint
Stir ingredients with plenty of ice in a mixing jug. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass, and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
4. GIN ESPRESSO MARTINI (featuring Aviation Gin)
Notable botanicals of the gin: Juniper, lavender, anise, sarsaparilla, orange peel, cardamom
Aviation Gin is a premium American gin crafted in small batches in Portland, Oregon. Distilled to an old Dutch recipe, it offers a very distinguished flavour providing crisp notes of juniper, balanced nicely with earthy spice and hints of delicate floral sweetness. The finish is long with lasting notes of spice and citrus. It works particularly well as a base in many cocktails, especially the martini.
GIN ESPRESSO MARTINI RECIPE
50ml Aviation Gin
25ml Coffee Liqueur
25ml Espresso
15ml Simple Syrup (optional)
Coffee Beans or Nutmeg
Combine all the ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with 3 coffee beans or grated nutmeg.
5. JASMINE MARTINI (featuring Slingsby London Dry Gin)
Notable botanicals of the gin: Primrose, sweet cicely, nettle, rhubarb, milk thistle, rosehip, Taylors of Harrogate green and jasmine tea
Produced in the spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, this highly acclaimed gin is made with 24 botanicals, including 17 of which are sourced locally. It is beautifully refreshing with notes of citrus, light juniper and green tea on the finish.
Interesting fact: Slingsby Gin’s iconic blue bottle was specifically designed to resemble old apothecary bottles. The coloured glass, either blue or amber, would help to filter UV lights and therefore preserve the medicines for longer.
JASMINE MARTINI RECIPE
25ml Slingsby London Dry Gin
25ml Cocchi Americano
15ml Jasmine Syrup
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass and stir down until appropriately diluted. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with an edible flower.
