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.
Me, on the other hand, I drink about 1 cocktail a month. Maybe not even THAT much. I don’t care for the taste of alcohol and it makes me sleepy and certainly not the life of a party. I do like some cocktails, and I’m certainly fascinated to coming up with new and pretty drinks.
Perhaps a bartending class is in our future?
Why you should try this recipe
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 and you can make any fruit infused alcohol using this same technique.
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. See, I told it was easy.
Although I am not a martini drinker or even a vodka drinker, I do love how the flavors of the fruit get infused in vodka. It is such an easy way to add some fruity flavor to whatever cocktail you are enjoying.
I like to make infused booze in large batches, then bottle it up and give as gifts to friends and family. I have made orange vodka (orange peels with vodka) and pomegranate vodka. So you see, the possibilities are endless!
Ingredients you need
- Strawberries: Use berries that are in season and full of flavor. If you use bland out-of-season strawberries, you will have a strawberry vodka that has very little berry flavor. Be sure to taste your berries before you use them.
- Vodka: Use your favorite vodka.
- Vermouth: For the martini, you will need some Vermouth.
Step-by-step directions
1. In a 1-pint jar, fill with chopped strawberries. Cover berries with 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.
2. When vodka is ready, swirl some vermouth inside an a martini glass. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add strawberry vodka, then shake until chilled, about 15-30 seconds. Strain out the chilled vodka into your prepared martini glass.
Recipe tips and FAQs
Although I am not a Martini drinker, I did so my research on it. And sure enough, whether you choose vodka or gin as your base, this plus a bit of Vermouth and you have a Martini.
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.
Shaking your martini in a cocktail shaker supposedly dissolves the vermouth better. You also get a colder martini by shaking it, as well your cocktail having more air bubbles and is more diluted than its stirred counterparts. If you want a stiffer strawberry martini, then stir it.
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 strawberry vodka and some club soda.
When it comes to limoncello, you infuse the vodka with the lemon peels for up to 6 weeks. But with strawberry vodka, since you are using actual fruit it can get a little gross. I infuse vodka with strawberries for up to 1 week.
While the vodka is infusing with fruit, store you vodka in a cool and dark place. Once you strain out the fruit, you can store the bottle of vodka in your bar or even your freezer to keep chilled.
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Strawberry Vodka for a Strawberry Martini
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.
Ingredients
- 6 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 8 oz vodka
- 1 oz vermouth
Instructions
- In a 1-pint jar, fill with chopped strawberries.
- Cover strawberries with 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 1 oz vermouth inside an a martini glass.
- 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, or if you prefer, stir for 15-20 seconds.
- Strain out the chilled vodka into your prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with a slice of strawberry and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1 glassAmount Per Serving: Calories: 332Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g
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Hello, can you tell me where to buy these glasses? I’m a Martini Lover!!!!
We bought these years ago at, I think, World Market. I looked online and it doesn’t look like they carry it anymore. But if you google “Libbey bravura martini glasses” you can find all the websites that sell them. Good luck!
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.)
I love that cute martini glass. So chic and I want sips!
I’m a stirrer from way back. I can only drink one. Nobody wants Maureen dancing on the tables. 🙂
Your vodka is so pretty, love the strawberry infusion!
I am not a martini person so cant tell much. Nice to find your blog
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 shake them, I know stirring is the preferred method but I like mine shaken more.
[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’m not a huuuuuuuge drinker anymore, but I LOVE strawberry martinis! Such a great Summer cocktail.
Not a classic martini drinker, I’d be tempted by this lovely libation – a perfect summer cocktail.
Love this! What a great idea!! Love martinis
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.
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.
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!