Pink Martini

The Pink Martini is a spirit-forward cocktail made with vodka, dry vermouth, a few dashes of orange bitters, and a couple of teaspoons of grenadine for its pink hue. Shaken with ice and then served in a chilled cocktail glass, it’s an elegant and subtly fruity twist on a classic Vodka Martini.

The Pink Martini is elegant, spirit-forward and subtly fruity with a slightly sweet finish. It greets you with herbal notes from dry vermouth, citrus from orange bitters, and a gentle tart-sweet kiss of grenadine.

The origins of the Pink Martini are unknown. It is a variation of the classic Vodka Martini, which is believed to date back to the 1930s.

It’s also possible that the Pink Martini is a modern creation inspired by the mid-19th century gin cocktail, Pink Gin, made with one part Plymouth gin, one part water, and a dash of aromatic bitters, which gives the drink its characteristic pink hue.

• Chill your glassware
  Start by placing your martini glass in the freezer before serving. This ensures your drink stays cold and allows the crisp notes of vodka and vermouth to shine through. Sipping a chilled martini from a chilled martini glass is the best way to enjoy a martini.

• Chill your vodka
  Chilling vodka in the freezer for 12-24 hours thickens its consistency, resulting in a smoother, silkier texture for your martini.

• Make homemade grenadine
  If you want a more genuine flavor and color for your cocktails, homemade is the way to go.

  Homemade grenadine is made from fresh pomegranate juice and sugar, giving it a natural, tart sweetness and vibrant color. Store-bought grenadine, on the other hand, often contains preservatives and artificial flavors, making it ultra-sweet and less authentic in taste.

  Watch Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, show how to make your own grenadine at home.

• Double strain your cocktail
  After shaking your drink, pour it through a mesh strainer together with a Hawthorne strainer. This step eliminates ice shards, resulting in a smooth and clear finish for your cocktail. Don’t miss our article where we explain how to double strain a cocktail.

• Since the Pink Martini is a twist on a Vodka Martini, we recommend serving this cocktail in a pre-chilled martini glass for a truly elegant drinking experience. If you don’t have a martini glass, a cocktail glass also works beautifully too.
• While our recipe doesn’t include a garnish since the drink’s pink hue is the attraction, a twist of lemon is always a classic choice for a martini. Alternatively, a twist of orange zest can beautifully complement the orange bitters.