Strawberry Martini

5 from 57 votes

Celebrate strawberry season with a sweet and delicious Strawberry Martini! This simple three-ingredient drink is perfect for sipping with dessert or with a sweet-and-salty appetizer.

a strawberry martini next to bowls of strawberries

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Fresh Strawberry Martini recipe

The best time of the year is almost here: strawberry season.

When strawberries are at their finest, I can’t help but make all the strawberry drinks and desserts.

From strawberry lemonade to strawberry rhubarb champagne cocktail, there are so many ways to celebrate this delicious berry.

The strawberry martini is my new favorite. The combination of gin, triple sec and homemade strawberry simple syrup is the perfect trio to sip before or after a great meal. 

It feels so fancy and fun, thanks to the gorgeous pink color and a whole strawberry on the rim. 

​Let’s shake up this easy summer cocktail! 

More dessert martini recipes: Espresso MartiniTiramisu MartiniBirthday Cake MartiniPumpkin Spice MartiniApple Martini

a strawberry martini on a white background.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Quick and easy, this three-ingredient drink is simple to shake up.
  • The flavor is fresh and delicious — the perfect spring and summer cocktail.
  • You can make a homemade strawberry simple syrup quickly and easily to use in a bunch of cocktails or you can use store-bought if you need a shortcut.

It’s the perfect cocktail for happy hour, girls’ night or game night, or just any night where you want to enjoy a fresh cocktail.

You could make a big batch to serve at cookouts, birthday parties, engagement parties, wedding showers or baby showers.

Tools & glassware

If you make your own strawberry simple syrup, you’ll need a paring knife to cut your strawberries. A strawberry huller makes it easy to pull the green stems out of the berries.

And then you’ll also need a small saucepan to warm everything up together.

For making the cocktail, you will need a jigger to measure out ingredients, a cocktail shaker and a strainer. I prefer a hawthorn strainer.

The best cocktail glass for a strawberry martini is either a martini glass or a coupe glass.

The recipe for a delicious strawberry gin cocktail, also known as a strawberry martini.

Ingredients

You only need three simple ingredients to make this cocktail!

Gin

Some people love gin, and some don’t. It’s easy to see why: The herbal, almost medicinal taste is complex and strong, especially in a cocktail like the gin & tonic.

But every brand bears a different flavor profile, and it’s fun to try them in different cocktails. Here are three gins I am enjoying right now:

  • The classic Hendrick’s Gin is sweet and herbaceous with hints of juniper.
  • Citadelle Gin comes in a stunning blue bottle with a bright, aromatic flavor with a hint of spice.
  • Old Tom Gin is a little bit sweeter. It’s also great in the classic Pimm’s Cup, another strawberry cocktail.

If you are not a fan of gin, no worries! You can make it a strawberry vodka martini with plain vodka or a tequila martini instead. For a sweeter cocktail, you could use vanilla vodka or strawberry vodka.

a bottle of cointreau

Orange liqueur

Triple sec is a clear-colored orange liqueur that adds a slight hint of sweet orange flavor to the cocktail, plus a little extra booziness.

The citrus flavor helps to balance the sweetness of the strawberries.

A pricier orange liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier may be used instead of triple sec for a more top-shelf cocktail.

a swingtop bottle of strawberry simple syrup next to fresh strawberries

Strawberry syrup

The strawberry flavor in this cocktail comes from a simple syrup made with fresh strawberries. It’s easy to make a homemade strawberry simple syrup with fresh fruit, granulated sugar and water.

You can also buy strawberry syrup online or in specialty grocery stores.

If you don’t have or want to make the strawberry syrup, you could do a couple of things. Be sure to strain well with either option:

  • Muddle strawberries with regular simple syrup in the cocktail shaker. Use a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon to squash the berries and release their juices.
  • Combine 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) of strawberry jam or strawberry preserves with 2 ounces hot water. Stir to combine. (This strawberry freezer jam is so good!)

Fruity simple syrups are so delicious and great for cocktails, such as this lychee martini made with lychee syrup.

a strawberry martini with a fresh berry garnish in a coupe glass.

Variations & substitutions

If you are not a gin fan, you can make this cocktail with vodka or tequila instead.

For a non-alcoholic strawberry martini, use a zero-proof spirit such as Ritual gin alternative.

You could also flavor your strawberry syrup. Add some mint sprigs, basil leaves or another type of berries to switch things up.

a bottle of strawberry simple syrup

Strawberry simple syrup

Like the name implies, making strawberry simple syrup is super simple to do! Here’s what to do:

  1. Place ripe strawberries, sugar, and water in a pot and muddle the strawberries to release juices.
  2. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  3. Carefully strain the syrup into an airtight container to remove the seeds and pulp. Allow to cool to room temperature or fully chill in the fridge overnight.

This recipe makes about 10-12 ounces of strawberry simple syrup. Store the extra syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

If you have any leftover syrup, use it to make an Italian soda or French soda.

Instead of discarding the strained strawberries used to make the syrup, save them for another dish! This syrup would also work well on pancakes, waffles, yogurt bowls, sweet rolls, and trifles.

They would work beautifully as a topping for overnight oats, vanilla ice cream, yogurt parfaits, pancakes or a strawberry smoothie. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within 3 days.

a coupe glass containing a pink cocktail with a fresh berry on a cocktail pack.

How to make a Strawberry Martini

Making this three-ingredient strawberry martini is super simple. Let’s get shaking!

First, add gin, strawberry simple syrup, triple sec and ice cubes to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Then strain into martini glasses or coupe glasses and serve immediately. Cheers to you!

Here are a few garnish ideas for this cocktail:

  • strawberry slices
  • a whole strawberry 
  • lemon slices
  • a lemon wedge
  • sprig of mint 
  • basil leaf 
strawberry syrup, fresh berries and two pink strawberry martinis in coupe glasses

Tips & tricks

Here are some tips for making this easy cocktail the best it can be: 

  • Add more or less of the strawberry simple syrup to the martini to suit your tastes.
  • Make this cocktail your own by adding an ounce of fresh lemon juice for a tart twist.
  • For a top-shelf drink. Cointreau may be used in place of triple sec.
  • Switch up the gin for vodka or tequila if you prefer.

Food pairings

This sweet strawberry martini is perfect for dessert! Especially on hot summer days when you want something light and refreshing. 

Try it with a simple strawberry dessert of chocolate-covered strawberries or a bowl of fresh strawberries with homemade whipped cream. (You can even use the leftover strawberries from making the simple syrup.) A batch of colorful strawberry cake mix cookies would be great to share with a group.

Any fruity dessert would also be delicious with this fresh cocktail. Try it with blueberry coffee cake or strawberry shortcake cupcakes.

This delicious cocktail could also be enjoyed before dinner with sweet-and-salty appetizers like baked brie with honey, bacon-wrapped dates or a charcuterie board.

a sliced strawberry on a gold cocktail pick over a pink cocktail.

FAQ

What is a strawberry martini made of?

You can make a strawberry martini with strawberry syrup, gin or vodka, orange liqueur. Strawberry simple syrup can be made with fresh strawberries, sugar and water.

How do you store strawberry syrup?

Store the strawberry simple syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

More strawberry cocktail recipes

If you love strawberries, try one of these delicious strawberry cocktails:

— Did you make this recipe? —

Please leave a ★★★★★ review or comment below.

a sliced strawberry on a gold cocktail pick over a pink cocktail.

Strawberry Martini

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
This strawberry martini is a fresh and juicy spin on a cult classic. It features homemade strawberry simple syrup using fresh strawberries as well as gin and triple sec. It’s a simple recipe with a great flavor payoff.
5 from 57 votes
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ingredients

Strawberry Simple Syrup

Strawberry Martini

instructions

Strawberry Simple Syrup

  • To make the strawberry simple syrup, place strawberries, sugar, and water in a pot and muddle the strawberries to release juices.
  • Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Carefully strain the syrup (see note) into an airtight container. Allow to cool before using (ideally to room temperature, about 2 hours, or chilled in the fridge overnight).
  • This recipe makes about 10-12 ounces of strawberry simple syrup. Store the extra syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. This syrup would also work well on pancakes, waffles, yogurt bowls, sweet rolls and trifles.

Strawberry Martini

  • Add gin, strawberry simple syrup, triple sec and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
  • Pour into martini or coupe glasses and serve immediately.

notes

Instead of discarding the strained strawberries that were used to make the syrup, save them for another dish! They would work beautifully as a topping for overnight oats, ice cream, yogurt parfaits, pancakes, or in smoothies. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within 3 days.
You can always add more or less of the strawberry simple syrup to the martini to suit your tastes.
Make this cocktail your own by adding an ounce of fresh citrus juice for a tart twist.
Substitutions
Cointreau may be used in place of triple sec.
Vodka and tequila may be used in place of gin.

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

nutrition information

Yield: 1 cocktail

amount per serving:

Serving: 8.5ounces Calories: 393kcal Carbohydrates: 46g Protein: 0.01g Fat: 0.04g Saturated Fat: 0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 35mg Potassium: 42mg Sugar: 46g Calcium: 8mg Iron: 2mg
did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #feastandwestrecipes!
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5 from 57 votes (57 ratings without comment)

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