Whether you like it shaken or stirred, it’s up to you. But we can all agree that a Strawberry Vodka Martini is one special cocktail.
I will state my usual disclaimer about alcohol. I honestly do not drink much of it. My husband is the alcohol aficionado, with his prized collection of liqueurs and wines. Most of the alcoholic drinks inspired on this blog are for him. And even still, we find ourselves drinking the same drinks. Perhaps a bartending class is in our future?
Since I am on a roll with my strawberry recipes, I decided to try out one of my favorite techniques. Infusing vodka with fresh fruit. And this time I used strawberries. It’s nothing complicated. Fill a jar with chopped strawberries and fill the jar up with vodka. Pop it in the fridge and 3-7 days later you have this magenta-colored strawberry vodka.
Usually, I blog about the infused vodka and leave the mixing to you. But this time I wanted to make a cocktail with my infusion.
“What’s in a martini?” I asked the hubby.
“Vodka,” was the answer.
“What else?”
“Vodka or Gin. Maybe Vermouth. That’s it.”
“Yuck,” says I.
So the hubby proceeded with a Strawberry Vodka Martini. He swirled the Vermouth into his glass then added the vodka.
“Mmmm… strawberries,” he sighed.
I took a sip.
“Yuck, too strong!”
No, I am not a Martini drinker. So I did my research and sure enough, whether you choose vodka or gin as your base, this plus a bit of Vermouth and you have a Martini. And Martini-drinkers are very passionate about their drink, about the shaking versus stirring controversy I thought was only a line spoken in the James Bond movies.
But there is much analysis about the damaging of the alcohol or too much oxygen or whatever it is that keeps “the shaken on one side and “the stirred” on the other. I will let you be the judge of that. I will stick with a bit of vodka and some club soda.
Do you drink Martini’s and do you shake or stir it?
Strawberry Vodka
Fruit infused vodka is easy to prepare. And when using infusing with strawberries, your fruity vodka is ready in a few short days. Recipe by Laura Bashar of Family Spice
Ingredients:
- 6 oz fresh strawberries, hulls removed and quartered
- 8 oz vodka
- 1 oz vermouth
Directions:
- In a 1-pint jar, fill with:
- 6 oz fresh strawberries , hulls removed and quartered
- Cover strawberries with:
- 8 oz vodka
- Seal jar and store in the refrigerator to infuse for 3-7 days. The longer the infusion, the more intense the strawberry flavor.
- Strain out strawberries and discard. Your strawberry vodka is ready to use.
- When vodka is ready, swirl inside an a martini glass with:
- 1 oz vermouth
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add:
- 4 oz strawberry vodka
- Close the top of the cocktail shaker and shake until vodka is chilled, about 30 seconds.
- Strain out the chilled vodka into your prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with:
- 1 strawberry , sliced (optional)
- Serve immediately.
Prep Time:
Yield: Serves 2
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Ah it has been a while that I had martini so I can’t really answer your question if I like it stirred or shaken. I have never had it much… But one thing I know for sure, I need your drink now!
I find martinis too strong for more than a few sips, but I do love the glasses. And yours justifies ordering one! I just made raspberry vodka and love it. Will try it with strawberries soon.
The classic reason to stir a martini is because all of the ingredients are clear, when you stir it they’ll remain clear. When you shake, the oxygen bubbles you introduce make the drink cloudy. That said, I often shake. 😉 Anyway, love the strawberry vodka! Great color and sounds like an interesting drink. Love the food styling on the 2nd photo.
Love this! What a great idea!! Love martinis
Not a classic martini drinker, I’d be tempted by this lovely libation – a perfect summer cocktail.
I’m not a huuuuuuuge drinker anymore, but I LOVE strawberry martinis! Such a great Summer cocktail.
[smiling hugely] Well, I am a daily wine drinker with my main meal: can’t imagine sitting down without a wineglass in front of me, BUT . . . Martinis and Manhattans and Gimlets are far, far too short and strong and totally numb my palate for food . . . that said I do make [gin] martinis with a waft of vermouth for others and do have the habit of shaking 🙂 !
I shake them, I know stirring is the preferred method but I like mine shaken more.
Boy, that strawberry trip to Oxnard was successful if this is what you came up with…I can’t wait to try this baby…
I am not a martini person so cant tell much. Nice to find your blog
Your vodka is so pretty, love the strawberry infusion!
I’m a stirrer from way back. I can only drink one. Nobody wants Maureen dancing on the tables. 🙂
I love that cute martini glass. So chic and I want sips!
I was dreading a funky fake flavored vodka and yours looks lovely (if perhaps a bit of a booze bomb!). I’m working on Low-ABV cocktails these days & you might prefer your pretty infusion poured long with lemonade, or a small amount with sweet vermouth, fruit juice & white soda – think Sangria. In any case, good one! (Rule of thumb: shake vodka martinis, stir gin.)