Blueberry Martini

The Blueberry Martini is a variation of a classic Vodka Martini. Shaken with ice, it combines vodka, blueberry liqueur and simple syrup, strained and served in a chilled martini glass.

Its striking blue color and elegant garnish of three fresh blueberries on a cocktail stick is sure to catch the eye of any onlooker. While our recipe doesn’t include it, lime juice is often added in equal parts with simple syrup and blueberry liqueur.

A Blueberry Martini is a spirit-forward cocktail that showcases the smoothness and subtle buttery notes of Absolut Vodka, complemented by the fruity sweetness of blueberry liqueur and enhanced by simple syrup. An elegant sipping martini.

The origins of the Blueberry Martini are uncertain, with some sources suggesting it emerged during the 1990s cocktail boom, when any shaken, fruit-based cocktail served in a martini glass was labeled a “martini,” even without dry vermouth.

However, since the Blueberry Martini includes dry vermouth, it might have been created either before the 1990s cocktail boom or in the early to mid-2000s, when classic cocktails were experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

• Fine strain your martini
  Whether you choose to muddle fresh blueberries (see ‘variations’ section below) or follow the recipe as is, we recommend fine straining your cocktail by doubling straining your drink with a Hawthorne strainer togerther with a fine mesh strainer to prevent any fruit pieces ending up in your drink.
• Pre-chill your martini glass
  Sipping an ice-cold martini from an ice-cold martini glass is one of the cocktail drinking’s finest moments. Place your glassware in the freezer 30 minutes before making your drink. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference.

Given that the Blueberry Martini is a twist on a Vodka Martini, which has near-endless variations, below we provide a few ways you can customize your Blueberry Martini without straying too far from its original flavor profile.

• Muddle blueberries
  Fruit liqueurs can sometimes taste overly sweet and slightly artificial. To add both authenticity and a richer blueberry taste, gently muddle 6-8 blueberries with simple syrup before incorporating the other ingredients and shaking.
• Add lime juice
  Adding 10 ml of lime juice will give your drink a lovely zesty acidity that will balance out the sweetness of the blueberry liqueur.
• Blueberry Lemon Drop
  This variation is, in fact, a modern twist on a classic Lemon Drop resulting in a drink that’s a cross between a Lemon Drop, a Cosmopolitan and a Blueberry Martini.

  A Blueberry Lemon Drop omits the blueberry liqueur from a Blueberry Martini and replaces it with triple sec, lemon juice and muddled blueberries. It’s often made with a splash of cranberry juice, tipping it towards a Cosmopolitan. Here are the measurements:6-8 Fresh Muddled Blueberries
  10 ml Simple Syrup
  45 ml Absolut Vodka
  10 ml Triple Sec
  10 ml Lemon Juice
  A splash of cranberry juice (optional)

• Blackberry liqueur
  Swap blueberry liqueur for crème de cassis (blackberry liqueur) and you’ve suddenly got a Blackberry Martini. Blackberry liqueur is rich and fruity reminiscent of jam, whereas blueberry liqueur is typically more subtly sweet.

• We recommend serving a Blueberry Martini in a pre-chilled martini glass.
• To garnish, we recommend skewering a 3 blueberries on a cocktail stick and either placing it directly into your glass or placed across your glass.
• If you’d like to mirror a classic Vodka Martini, you could also opt for a lemon twist. Use a peeler to remove a long strip of lemon zest, then wrap it around a straw to form a twist, and place it in  your drink as a garnish.