Do you consider yourself outdoorsy?  If you interpret that to mean “outdoorsy” in, you like to sit on a patio with a cocktail in hand then you’ve come to the right place 😊 It’s that time of year – patio season!  And most definitely cocktail season.  Well, cocktails are really a year-round thing but there’s something about the start of summer, all the sunshine, and the opportunity to be outside with a drink in hand that calls to most Minnesotans.  I’ve been on a martini kick lately and thought it would be fun to try my hand at some fruity flavors, which is what I want to share with you today.  I tend to stay away from martinis because I think the alcohol flavor is too strong and overpowering but if you play around with different ingredients and flavor profiles, you can create some really yummy concoctions.  Here are the recipes:

 

BLOOD ORANGE MARTINI

Blood oranges are slightly sweet and a little tart, almost like a grapefruit (in my opinion).  When sliced open, they are bright color, almost a deep red.  Try to use blood oranges for the recipe but if you can’t find any, raspberry oranges work well, and are essentially the same thing.

Start by slicing a blood orange to wet the rim of 2 martini glasses then dip the rims into sugar to coat.  Give a little shake to remove any excess sugar and set aside.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.  Add the blood orange juice (freshly squeezed and strained to remove pulp), vodka, orange curacao, and simple syrup.  Shake vigorously then strain into the martini glasses.

Garnish with a slice of blood orange and enjoy!

The recipe can be found here and is for 2 cocktails.

LEMON DROP MARTINI

These martinis are the perfect balance of sweet and sour, almost like a refreshing glass of lemonade on a hot day!

Use water to wet the rim of 2 martini glasses then dip the rims into sugar to coat.  Give a little shake to remove any excess sugar and set aside.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.  Add the lemon juice (freshly squeezed and strained to remove pulp), vodka, and simple syrup.  Shake vigorously then strain into the martini glasses.

Garnish with a slice of lemon and enjoy!

The recipe can be found here and is for 2 cocktails.

GRAPEFRUIT MARTINI

These martinis are fairly tart/sour and quite refreshing.  I don’t consider them to be bitter (from the grapefruit), but you will add cocktail bitters to the mixture to enhance the flavor profile.  The nice thing about bitters is once you own a bottle, they last a long time and can be used in many cocktails, so you will get good use out of the bitters purchased for this recipe.

You don’t need to add sugar to the rim for these martinis but if you struggle with sour fruits or want a hint of sweetness, go ahead and add sugar to the rims.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.  Add the gin, vodka, grapefruit juice, grapefruit bitters, and orange curacao.  Shake vigorously then strain into the martini glasses.

Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and a mint leaf and enjoy!

The recipe can be found here and is for 2 cocktails.

STRAWBERRY BASIL MARTINI

This one is my favorite of the 4 martinis!  You make homemade, strawberry basil infused vodka, that is the perfect combination of sweet and fruity, with a hint of earthiness.  I actually plan on making another batch of the strawberry basil infused vodka to enjoy on the rocks because it was THAT GOOD!  This martini has a light and refreshing taste and will leave you wanting more.

Start by making the strawberry basil infused vodka.  Slice the strawberries in half and add to a mason jar with basil.  Top with vodka until the strawberries are covered.  Seal tightly and refrigerate for 5-7 days, shaking every so often.  When ready to use, strain the vodka to remove any seeds and larger chunks.

Prepare the martini.  Add 4 strawberries, 2 basil leaves, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.  Muddle together.  Fill the cocktail shaker with ice.  Add the lemon juice, St Germain, and infused vodka.  Shake vigorously then strain into the martini glasses.

Garnish with a basil leaf and sliced strawberry and enjoy!

The recipe can be found here and is for 2 cocktails.

There you have it folks!  Delicious, fruity martini recipes for the summer (or any time of year).  So, prepare your favorite and head outside to enjoy the beautiful summer weather.

Happy Cocktailing!

Share this post...Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.