Easy
Spirit-forward & Citrusy
3 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Bikini Martini is a gin cocktail that epitomizes the 1990s and makes absolutely no apologies for it.
The Bikini Martini is many things. Subtle is not one of them. Just look at the color. Made with gin, blue curaçao and peach schnapps, shaken and served in a chilled martini glass with an orange twist, the Bikini Martini is fruity, bold and considerably less sweet than it looks. Don’t let the neon blue fool you – there’s a proper gin cocktail underneath it.
Created by the same late legendary London bartender behind the Espresso Martini, the Russian Spring Punch and the Bramble, the Bikini Martini is a 90s classic that deserves more credit than it gets.
How To Make a BIKINI MARTINI
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Mixing Glass
Twist Knife
Bar Spoon
Julep Strainer
How to Mix
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Fill a Mixing Glass with Ice Cubes.
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Measure and pour Blue Curaçao into the Mixing Glass using a Jigger.
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Measure and pour Gin into the Mixing Glass, followed by Peach Schnapps.
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Stir with a Bar Spoon until chilled and diluted to your taste preference.
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Place a Julep Strainer over the Mixing Glass and pour the cocktail directly into a chilled Martini Glass.
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Slice a piece of Orange Peel with a Paring Knife, twist it, and place it directly into the Martini Glass.
ALL ABOUT THE BIKINI MARTINI
The Bikini Martini is a fruity yet stiff drink created in 1999 by none other than legendary London bartender by Dick Bradsell (RIP) who also invented the Espresso Martini and the Bramble cocktail among other drinks. It’s most famous for its neon blue color. As the name suggests, the Bikini Martini a riff on a classic martini.
Sip a Bikini Martini and you’ll get the distinct botanical, herbal, and slightly piney notes of gin, the sweet peach flavors from peach schnapps, and the sweet yet slightly bitter orange essence from blue curaçao. Despite appearances, it’s not as sweet as you’d expect. In fact, it’s a rather stiff drink.
The origins of the Bikini Martini date back to the late 90s. As mentioned above, the Bikini Martini was created by legendary London bartender Dick Bradsell. The Bikini Martini was reportedly crafted as the signature cocktail for a swimsuit fashion event in the UK.
Just one glance at the Bikini Martini, and you can tell it’s a 90s classic. This drink perfectly captures the era when colorful cocktails were all the rage. With its electric-blue charm and fruity yet stiff profile, it’s like sipping the 90s straight from a Martini Glass.
- Chill your Martini Glass
Whenever you’re making a Martini, we recommend serving your drink in a chilled Martini Glass. Place your glass in the freezer 30 minutes to 2 hours beforehand. It’s those little details that make all the difference. - Stir until perfection
Like all other stirred martini drinks, achieving the perfection dilution is the key to a perfect drink. How do you know when it’s perfected diluted? Taste it. If it needs more dilution, keep stirring. The perfect martini is the one that you like best.
When it comes to Martinis, two questions always arise: Vodka or Gin? Shaken or stirred? The choice really depends on personal taste—it’s all about what you prefer.
- Bikini Martini with Lemon Juice
Some recipes for the Bikini Martini drink include Lemon Juice, which I personally prefer and highly recommend adding. Nothing beats fresh ingredients when making cocktails, and the addition of real fruit brings authenticity to your drink, adding depth and complexity rather than just the essence from other ingredients. For instance, real orange zest, showcased in the orange twist garnish, really complements the orange notes in the Blue Curaçao. Similarly, the addition of Lemon Juice adds a tartness and balance to the drink and heightens the entire drink. Add approximately a quarter part of Lemon Juice for the perfect touch. - Bikini Martini Shaken version
Personally, I think the Bikini Martini is a better drink shaken, not stirred and with the addition of Lemon Juice. Add all the ingredients, including the Lemon Juice in a Boston Shaker filled with Ice Cubes. Shake, then fine strain into a chilled Martini Glass. In my opinion, the shaken version results in a colder and more balanced drink.
Serve the Bikini Martini in a chilled Martini Glass and garnish with a twist of Orange Zest.
Bikini Martini FAQ
Blue Curaçao has an orange-like flavor. Although its bright blue color might imply sweetness, it actually offers a bitter taste, resembling orange zest more than the fruit itself.
It all comes down to personal preference. As mentioned above, I personally prefer the Bikini Martini as a shaken drink. For me, a shaken Bikini Martini results in a colder and more balanced drink.
