The spicy flavor of the fresh root shines in this ginger cocktail! It’s perfect as a vodka martini with lemon juice and simple syrup.

Ginger cocktail

Got ginger? If you love the spicy flavor of the fresh root, try this Ginger Cocktail! It’s a refreshing spin on the vodka martini featuring, ginger, lemon juice and dry vermouth. Each sip has just the right balance of sweet and tangy, with a spicy finish. Alex and I made this drink to use up a large ginger root that was lurking in our refrigerator. After making ginger tea, we wondered how it would taste in a cocktail. Turns out, the bold flavor of ginger is a unique way to spice up your cocktail repertoire!

What’s in this ginger cocktail?

This ginger cocktail is a spin on the flavored vodka martini: which is really just a martini in name only! There’s a whole family of vodka martinis that bear no resemblance to the classic cocktail at all. This ginger martini is one in a long line of vodka drinks, like the espresso martini, watermelon martini, pomegranate martini, and more. Here’s what you’ll need to make this ginger cocktail:

  • Ginger simple syrup: our special recipe!
  • Vodka
  • Lemon juice
  • Dry vermouth
Ginger cocktail

How to make ginger simple syrup…using our special method

Promise us one thing: you must make this ginger cocktail using our recipe for ginger simple syrup. Here’s why: most simple syrups are made by infusing an herb in the warm syrup. This works great for soft herbs like mint and rosemary. But ginger root is a bit tougher, so it’s harder to extract the flavor. The ginger syrup we made the standard way didn’t infuse ginger flavor into cocktails. So we realized we had to try a new way: using a blender! Here’s what to know (or to go Ginger Simple Syrup):

  • Wash and slice the ginger root. No need to peel it!
  • Add the ginger to a blender with sugar and boiling water. It’s easy to boil water using a teapot, but use any method you like.
  • Blend, then strain! Blend it for several minutes until smooth, then strain through a fine mesh strainer. This gets a creamy looking ginger syrup with a very spicy ginger flavor! Taste it from the blender and it tastes overly spicy, but it’s perfect when you use it in a drink…trust us.
Ginger root

How to make this ginger cocktail

The only part about this ginger cocktail that takes some time is the ginger syrup. Other than that, it’s a breeze to whip up! Here’s all you need to know about making a ginger martini:

  • Make the ginger syrup. See above!
  • Shake in a cocktail shaker. Place the ginger simple syrup, vodka, lemon juice and dry vermouth in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake (Don’t have one? Use a mason jar!)
  • Strain into a glass and garnish. Strain into a martini glass. If you’d like, garnish with a lemon slice or crystalized ginger.

More vodka martini recipes

Flavored martinis are a modern invention: built on the vodka martini. Most of them drop the vermouth…so they’re hardly a Classic Martini at all! Here are some of our favorite flavored martini recipes:

Ginger martini

When to serve this ginger cocktail

This Ginger Martini works before dinner, after dinner, or anytime in between. Serve it as a:

  • Happy hour drink
  • Afternoon cocktail
  • Late night drinks drink
  • Girls or guys night drink
  • Cocktail hour drink
Print
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Ginger martini

Ginger Martini


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x

Description

The spicy flavor of the fresh root shines in this ginger cocktail! It’s perfect as a vodka martini with lemon juice and simple syrup.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce ginger simple syrup
  • 1 ounce lemon juice
  • ½ ounce dry vermouth
  • For the garnish: lemon slice or crystalized ginger

Instructions

  1. Add the vodka, ginger simple syrup, lemon juice, and dry vermouth to a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake vigorously until cold.
  2. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon slice or crystalized ginger, if desired.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Ginger cocktail, Ginger martini

More ginger recipes

There are so many ways to use ginger root! Pick from some of our favorite ginger recipes:

  • Ginger Tea This soothing and invigorating drink has big flavor and potential health benefits, too.
  • Ginger Lime Hummus Features fresh flavors and is the perfect vegan snack!
  • Fried Rice with Ginger Here’s how to make the very best fried rice: takeout style! Egg, veggies, garlic and ginger bring aromatic flavor to this homemade comfort food.

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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2 Comments

  1. Loved it! I didnt have lemon juice so substituted lime. Used Liber & Co. fiery ginger syrup. Sooo good. Went down way too fast!