Looking for a way to level up your martinis? How about this Cherry Martini, or as I like to call it, the “Queen of Hearts”. It infuses just enough sweetness, freshness, and color from the cherries to kick your cocktail up a notch, without straying too far from your favorite traditional martini.
Plus, it’s easy to make and beautifully vibrant—sure to leave a lasting impression as an elegant fruit-forward cocktail.
Cherry Martini Tips and Tricks
Pit Your Cherries
As an environmental scientist, I am always trying to find fun ways to incorporate seasonal ingredients. Eating seasonally is one of the best ways to support local and decrease your carbon footprint. Local foods have less associated transportation costs and fuel emissions. Simply put, eating seasonally = less environmental impact. Check when cherries are in season in your area with this Seasonal Food Guide.
Before you extract the juice, Remove the pits by slicing cherries in half and using clean hands to pull the pit out.
Green tip: Try buying organic cherries for this cocktail. Organic farms rely on biodiversity to generate rich soil, avoiding the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which means no toxic runoff.
Muddle it Up
First things first – we want to get as much flavor as we can out of those cherries! Throw them in a bowl with the sugar and muddle them up until all of the juices are extracted. It should take you about 30 seconds.
You can use either granulated sugar or, if you want your cocktail refined sugar free, you can use coconut sugar.
Use a Sieve
Martinis are best smooth, so we want to get any cherry chunks out of the mix. Use your muddler or a spoon to push your cherry juice through a sieve, leaving the flesh and fruit behind.
You can push the juice directly into your martini glass, to save on extra dishes and clean up.
Green tip: The leftover cherries scraps are compostable! See more on composting.
Use Dry Vermouth
Dry vermouth is the best option for this Cherry Martini as it’s more herbaceous than sweet vermouth. We are also getting enough sweetness from our sugared cherry juice, and don’t need the extra punch of sweet you get from sweet vermouth.
And If Your Gin and Vermouth Isn’t Cold
If you want your drink chilled but do not store your gin and vermouth in the freezer, it’s best to use a cocktail shaker. Add your gin and vermouth to a shaker with ice to chill it, then pour it over your sweet cherry juice.
Cherry Martini Frequently Asked Questions
Is martini made with gin or vodka?
Traditionally, martinis are made with gin. If you want a martini made with vodka, you have to specify a Vodka Martini.
Why You Should Make the Queen of Hearts
- It’s fresh. The fresh cherry juice shines through!
- It’s subtly sweet. The perfect amount of sweetness from the cherries and a touch of sugar.
- The color! The cherries give such a vibrant red.
If you’re loving this Cherry Martini and want other fruit-forward cocktail ideas, check out this list of 10+ Mixology Cocktails To Try At Home.
Cherry Martini: Queen of Hearts
PIN Print RATEEquipment
- Cocktail Muddler (optional)
Ingredients
- 10 whole fresh cherries, pitted
- 1 teaspoon sugar, granulated or coconut
- 1 ounce vermouth
- 2 ounces gin
Instructions
- Muddle cherries and sugar in a small bowl until cherries release their juices-about 30 seconds. Use a sieve to strain sugared cherry juice into a martini glass.
- Pour Vermouth and gin over your cherry juice.
- Garnish with an extra cherry and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- This cocktail tastes best with Dry Vermouth.
- 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons
- Still thirsty? Check out this awesome collection of my best cocktail recipes!
