Average
Sweet & Creamy
4 Minutes
Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
The Pistachio Martini is a dessert cocktail and the perfect drink to serve at New Year’s Eve when you really want to turn things up a notch in terms of decadence.
Made with Absolut Vanilia, amaretto, pistachio cream liqueur, and a scoop of pistachio ice cream, it’s fair to say the Pistachio Martini bears little resemblance to a classic Dry Martini. But when a drink tastes this good, who’s complaining?
How To Make a PISTACHIO MARTINI COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Boston Shaker
Hawthorne Strainer
Fine Strainer
Jigger
How to Mix
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Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to measure and add Absolut Vanilia into the smaller tin of a Boston shaker.
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Add Amaretto.
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Add pistachio cream liqueur.
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Add ice cubes, connect the two shaker tins, and shake vigorously until the shaker is frosty on the outside.
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Separate the Boston shaker, place a Hawthorne strainer over the larger tin, and strain out the ice into the smaller tin. Discard the ice.
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Reassemble the shaker and shake again, this time without ice to emulsify.
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Use an ice cream scooper to add one scoop of pistachio ice cream into a martini glass.
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Open the shaker tins and pour the cocktail into the glass using a fine strainer.
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Garnish with a pinch of pistachio nuts sprinkled directly into the glass.
All about the Pistachio Martini
The Pistachio Martini is a decadent, dessert-like cocktail that shakes together vanilla-flavored vodka, amaretto, and pistachio cream liqueur. It’s then fine strained into a chilled martini glass. A scoop of pistachio ice cream sits at the bottom of the glass before the cocktail is poured in – rich, indulgent, and completely over the top in the best possible way.
Sweet, creamy, rich, and deeply decadent. The Pistachio Martini brings together the flavors of marzipan, pistachio, and vanilla in a glass and really, what more do you need to know?
The origins of the Pistachio Martini are disputed, but all signs point to Boston, Massachusetts as the birthplace. The timing, however, is less clear. Some say it appeared in the late 1990s, while one bar claims to have invented it around 2014. Meanwhile, another bar owner insists he’s been serving a version since the 1980s. The fact is, every bar in Boston’s Little Italy seems to have a stake in its creation.
What’s not disputed is its rise to prominence – since 2013, its popularity has surged thanks to social media.
- Chill your glassware
Place your martini glass in the freezer about 30 minutes before serving. With a drink this indulgent, every detail counts. - Add the ice cream last
Scoop the pistachio ice cream into the chilled martini glass just before pouring the cocktail in. Add it too early and it’ll melt before your guests even take a sip. - Fine strain for a perfect silky finish
After shaking, always fine strain the cocktail into the glass. It removes any ice chips or small fragments, keeping the texture smooth.
- Add a splash of Blue Curaçao
Many Pistachio Martini recipes call for a splash of blue curaçao.to give the drink a striking blue-green hue, more for visual appeal than the orange flavor it adds. If you want to add blue curaçao., we recommend just a splash – half a teaspoon. - Frozen Pistachio Martini
Simply add all the ingredients into a blender, together with ice and blend on high. Now that’s dessert!
- Glassware
A chilled martini glass is non-negotiable for the Pistachio Martini. - Garnish
Place a scoop of pistachio ice cream in the glass before pouring the cocktail in, then finish with a sprinkle of crushed pistachios on top. - Go all-out
Top the whole thing with whipped cream. No one will complain.
Pistachio Martini FAQ
Vanilla-flavored vodka is essential for a Pistachio Martini. Call us biased, but we recommend Absolut Vanilia.
Vanilla-flavored vodka, amaretto, pistachio cream liqueur, and pistachio. Some recipes also include a splash of blue curaçao.
See the recipe on this page – it’s perfect for home bartenders of all levels.
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