Raspberry Martini

Celebrate berry season with the ultimate spring and summer cocktail, the Raspberry Martini. This delicious, sweet-tart cocktail highlights the luxurious flavor of fresh raspberries alongside vodka, triple sec, raspberry liqueur and lemon juice.

About this Raspberry Martini

Every time I make simple syrups, I always try to make everything that I can from them.

Mint syrup? Mojitos and juleps. Ginger syrup? Moscow mules and homemade ginger ale. You get the idea.

Raspberry simple syrup has been a favorite of mine because it is so versatile. You can use it to make a pb&j old-fashioned with whiskey or add it to a raspberry mule with vodka.

But the real star might be this Raspberry Martini. It is sweet, tart and luscious, perfect for dinner parties, poolside lounging and summer soirées. Let’s go over everything you need to know.

More sweet martini recipes: Lemon Drop Martini • Tiramisu Martini • French Martini • S’mores Martini • Limoncello Martini

Why you’ll love this recipe

If you love raspberries, you’ll love this delightful drink:

• Raspberry syrup is easy to make with fresh raspberries.
• This is a simple yet elegant cocktail to make for any skill level.
• It isn’t overly boozy — it’s a light and sweet sipper.

Tools & glassware

To make a classic raspberry martini, a basic bar tool set with a jigger, cocktail shaker and a strainer is helpful to have.

To serve, a v-shaped martini glass is great, or you can use a more rounded coupe glass. Both are elegant stemmed glassware that make this cocktail shine.

Finally, a cocktail pick makes it easy to garnish this drink with fresh raspberries.

Ingredients

To make this raspberry martini, here’s what to grab on your grocery run:

• Vodka: A bottle of quality vodka is a must for any bar. Right now, I’m enjoying Tito’s and New Amsterdam. You can sub gin if you prefer a more herbal flavor — Hendrick’s is my favorite.
• Triple sec: Any clear orange liqueur will be lovely here. Triple sec or Cointreau both add a hint of sweet citrus.
• Raspberry liqueur: Chambord black raspberry liqueur is a ruby-red liqueur made in France from black raspberries and has a sweet berry flavor. You can also use similar liqueurs, like Fleur Charmante or Framboise.
• Raspberry syrup: I’ll show you how to make this! It’s easy with fresh raspberries, sugar and water. See the Substitutions & Variations section below for quick swaps.
• Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice is ideal, but the bottled concentrate can work in a pinch.

Garnishes

The coupe glass or martini glass makes this drink so elegant, but taking the time to garnish the drink will make it even more so. A few ideas:

• Add a few raspberries to a cocktail pick to finish off this cocktail. Or perch a raspberry on the rim of the glass.
• Green and fragrant, a fresh mint sprig of single mint leaf on top of the drink will add a delicious aroma that’ll enhance every sip.
• Lemon twists are always elegant, and the fragrance as you sip will highlight the citrus undertones in this drink.
• A few carefully-arranged drops of bitters on top of the foamy top will look stunning, too.

Variations & substitutions

No syrup? If you don’t have fresh raspberries, you can use raspberry jam. Warm it and mix it with some water. You can also try using raspberry vodka instead of regular.

Quick syrup: Or, instead of making the syrup, you can use a muddler to smash the raspberries with plain simple syrup for a similar effect, a trick I learned from the Clover Club cocktail.

You can also mix things up with one of these variations:

Mixed berry martini: Use a mishmash of berries in the syrup, such as blueberries, strawberries and blackberries.

Strawberry martini: Use strawberry syrup for a similar berry cocktail.

Raspberry daiquiri: Instead of vodka, use rum to make a daiquiri. A great way to use up leftover syrup.

Raspberry mocktail: Substitute a zero-proof syrup for the vodka. We like Seedlip Grove 42 and Seedlip Garden 108.

How to make raspberry syrup

Here’s what to do to make the syrup:

1. First, wash and dry the berries. In a medium saucepan, bring water and fruit to a boil. Lower the heat and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Use a fine mesh strainer to remove the solids and strain the hot liquid into a bowl or jar.
3. While still warm, stir in sugar until dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.
4. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Instructions

Making this raspberry martini is super simple. Here’s what to do:

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, triple sec, Chambord, raspberry syrup and lemon juice. Shake well.

Strain into a martini glass and garnish with fresh raspberries on a cocktail pick.

Tips & tricks

Set yourself up for success. Here’s how to make the best raspberry martini.

• Use quality ingredients for the best flavor. Making homemade raspberry syrup with fresh berries brings the ultimate raspberry flavor.
• Shake the cocktail vigorously to ensure proper mixing. This helps to chill the ingredients well for the best temperature and a perfect drink.
• Adjust sweetness or tartness to taste by modifying the amount of raspberry syrup or lemon juice.
• Pour the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Pop it in the freezer for about 30 minutes to an hour before you make drinks.

Food pairings

Serve these sweet martinis with cheesy and fruity appetizers like baked brie or a charcuterie board.

For dessert, enjoy them with fresh raspberries or raspberry desserts like these sweet-tart raspberry lemon parfaits, elegant raspberry financiers or colorful raspberry donuts.

You can even spoon leftover raspberry syrup onto ice cream for a delectable treat or use it to elevate a fancy dessert like raspberry almond tart even more.

When to serve them

These drinks would be perfect for so many occasions! Try them for…

• Dinner parties
• Girls night
• Bachelorette parties
• Wedding showers
• Baby showers
• Game night
• Date night
• Valentine’s Day

FAQ

More berry cocktail recipes

• Raspberry Kir Royale
• Blackberry Peach Whiskey Sour
• Red White and Blue Mojito
• Blueberry Mule