Cherry Martini

A classic martini is usually made with gin or vodka, vermouth and a twist of lemon. It’s served ice cold (either shaken or stirred) and sipped from a martini or coupe glass. Though my cherry martini is definitely a departure from the traditional, I’m certainly not the first person to take liberties with the recipe.

Martini recipes are as individual as the person sipping them

James Bond, the famous spy from Ian Fleming’s novels, preferred Vesper Martinis (a drink described in the 1953 novel, Casino Royale) made with three parts Gordon’s, one part vodka and half a measure of Kina Lillet.

Ernest Hemingway preferred The Montgomery with a 15:1 ratio of gin to vermouth.

The Hollywood film director and producer Alfred Hitchcock also liked his martinis very dry, with just “one short glance at a bottle of vermouth”.

And Johnny Carson cleverly quipped, “Happiness is finding two olives in your martini when you’re hungry.”

Dirty and extra-dirty martinis have a dose of olive brine, which, some argue, masks the taste of the alcohol. But if you’re a rookie martini drinker, that might be good.

For those just dipping their toes into icy martini waters, my lip-smacking blood orange martini is another good option, as is this gorgeous cherry martini. It’s not as dry, has a floral quality, and comes with two drunken cherries for snacking.

This fruity variation on a traditional martini is a natural extension of my drunken cherries recipe.

We make this every summer when the cherries are super sweet and juicy. I usually munch through the soused fruit by the end of September, but the leftover cherry-infused vodka doesn’t go to waste.

The secret ingredient for cherry martinis

Instead of straight vodka, I use the leftover cherry-infused spirits from those drunken cherries. It’s a happy by-product perfect for making these red martinis.

How much cherry vodka you have will depend on how large (or how many batches) of the inebriated fruit you’ve made. A small canning jar will give you about ½ to ¾ cup of infused vodka.

My friend, Nola, uses quart and liter sized jars to make hers — so she’s sipping well into December.

What you’ll need for cherry martinis

• Cherry Infused Vodka
• Dry Vermouth (preferably Nouilly Prat)
• Extra Vodka Soaked Cherries (for garnish, optional)
• Lemon Curl or Twist (optional)

You’ll notice that I don’t add any extra vodka to the cocktail. It’s strictly the leftover cherry infused vodka.

What is vermouth?

Vermouth is a fortified wine with alcohol added to increase the alcohol level. Aromatic blends of herbs, spices and even roots are infused into the mix to produce a complex arrangement of flavors. Different vermouths can be sweet or dry, the flavors go from floral to spicy and winy to sour.

Even though I used extra dry vermouth for these cherry martinis, it still lends a subtle, sweetness to the ruby red drink.

Is it better to shake or stir a martini?

Personally, I prefer my cocktails shaken, but the overall idea is to chill the drink very well and you can do it either way.

Shaking the martini in a traditional cocktail shaker for 30 seconds will break up big chunks of ice and mix the ingredients very well. The vigorous agitation chills the ingredients to an icy degree.

By the same token, you can also fill a glass with ice and add the ingredients. Stir well with a cocktail spoon for about 30 seconds, until the spirits are well chilled, then strain them into a coupe or martini glass. You don’t want any ice shards in the cherry martini.

The cherry infused vodka isn’t overly sweet, so it doesn’t bulldoze this red drink with a candy-like intensity. Instead, it’s a sophisticated sipper, like a martini should be.

Garnish with extra drunken cherries for nibbling and a pretty lemon curl.

Invite a few of your girlfriends over on a Friday night to catch up and sip a few of these bright red martinis. I usually put out a bowl of the drunken cherries to nibble on too. It’s a boozy good time with friends and I highly recommend it!

Cherry Martini FAQ’s

More red drinks, martinis and cocktails you might like:

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