13 Summer Martinis To Sip On National Martini Day
Close up shot of unrecognizable woman enjoying a martini with green olives during a dinner party ... More with friends.
National Martini Day is celebrated annually on June 19, and it's an opportunity for classic cocktail lovers to summon their inner James Bond and sip on their favorite shaken or stirred gin or vodka-based chilled martini.
There's so many ways to enjoy a martini, and a lot will come down to personal preference. But classically speaking, a martini is a classic cocktail is usually made with vodka or gin and dry vermouth, and often garnished with olive or lemon twist. This cocktail is best known for being chilled and served in a martini glass.
Martinis are having their moment! Always a classic and timelessly popular, they are a great choice for summer because they are by definition cool and crisp. This is a refreshing choice when it's a hot and humid day. But martinis are also perfect for summer because they are so hot right now (no pun intended!). We're seeing martinis reflected in fun and unexpected ways, from Dirty Martini Cream Cheese to viral TikTok recipes for Dirty Martini-themed dishes such as chicken or pasta. It's even getting the style treatment, such as RPZL's fun martini-themed claw clips.
As this is a very spirit-forward cocktail, you'll want to use good gin or vodka. From there, it's often going to come down to how you enjoy it, and whether you want to go briny, savory, or a little more citrus forward. These days, martinis have so many fun variations to consider beyond the classic dirty or with a twist, such as lychee or espresso.
Gather your ingredients and grab a chilled glass. It'll always involve a base spirit, usually gin or vodka, and a chilled glass, with ice for shaking, and, of course, a garnish.
Shizen Martini at BarChef New York.
The Shizen Martini at BarChef New York is an upscale modern twist on the classic gin martini. Crafted with Roku Gin, Umeshu, dry vermouth, ginger liqueur, watermelon rosé cordial, and grapefruit bitters, this spirit-forward cocktail is bright and clean on the palate, with layered citrus aromatics and a hint of delicate sweetness.
'The Shizen Martini is our way of respecting the classic Martini, while letting it breathe in something new. It's clean, thoughtful, and balanced. The delicate botanicals of Japanese gin complement the vibrant, lightly sweet notes of watermelon. Just a subtle reminder that elegance lives in simplicity,' said Gianluca Passuello, Director of Beverage at BarChef.
Feta Brine Martini at Mr. Melo in Brooklyn, New York.
At Mr. Melo in Brooklyn, New York, a Greek American nod to a classic dirty martini using leftover filtered feta brine and a blend of vermouths.
Bar Manager Nikolas Vagenas: "I created the cocktail for two reasons, to honor my Greek roots and to produce less food waste. Feta Brine is very salty so we use a blend of dry and white vermouths to cut through intense salinity and acidity," said Bar Manager and Co-Owner Nikolas Vagenas.
Crete's Secret at Mykos in Northvale, New Jersey.
At Mykos in Northvale, New Jersey, Crete's Secret incorporates vibrant ingredients like fresh mint and cucumber, Dirty Pelican's Mango Passionfruit mix, lemon, Chinola Mango liqueur and Ketel One Botanical to craft a drink that is invigorating as it is unique.
Lead mixologist Samantha Rojas says: 'This martini is inspired by the essence of Greek cuisine, which celebrates herbs and fresh ingredients in their purest form. Unlike traditional spirit forward martinis, this martini focuses on the natural beauty of its fresh ingredients, incorporating fresh mint, alongside bright lemon juice to accentuate the vibrant flavors of the organic Dirty Pelican mango and passionfruit purée.'
Bluth Velvet Espresso Martini at Powder at Waldorf Astoria Park City.
At Powder at Waldorf Astoria Park City , this cocktail is made with Tempus Fugit Spirits Crème de Cacao, Tempus Fugit Spirits Crème de Banane, Grey Goose Altius Vodka.
Travis Baldus, lead bartender says: 'Traditionally a winter favorite, our Bluth Velvet espresso martini gets a warm-weather refresh with the subtle sweetness of banana and cacao. Smooth, delicately tropical, and perfectly chilled for sophisticated après-mountain indulgence.'
Frozen Lychee Martini at Jackdaw NYC in New York City.
At Jackdaw NYC in New York City, this cocktail is made with vodka, J.F. Haden's Lychee Liqueur and lemon.
Frozen lychee martinis are very rare in general, but especially in NYC. So this is a refreshing, rare find.
'Jackdaw's drink of the summer is a take on the classic lychee martini. It's floral, zesty and bursting with lychee! Frozen to keep you cool on a NYC summer's day," said Andrew McFlynn, Jackdaw General Manager.
TRC at The Rhymers' Club in New York City.
At The Rhymers' Club in New York City, this cocktail is made with a choice of vodka or gin, Apricot Eau de Vie, Quiquina Blanc, Dry Vermouth, and, of course, blue cheese olives.
'Our TRC cocktail is a play on a vesper martini. We've swapped out the vodka for an apricot eau de vie. This fruit-forward martini is then contrasted by saltines of the blue cheese olives we serve it with,' said Aurele Berdoz, Beverage Director and Head Bartender.
Cherry Blossom at Gabriel Kreuther in New York City.
At Gabriel Kreuther in New York City, a delicate yet layered celebration of New York in bloom, the Cherry Blossom is a clarified martini by Head Bartender Katie Zuidema that combines The Reid Single Malt Vodka with cherry, lychee, almond, pomegranate, and vanilla for a silky, floral sip that fêtes the season.
Katie Zuidema, Head Bartender At Gabriel Kreuther, says: 'When I was crafting our spring cocktail menu, I wanted to create something that highlighted the florality of spring and one of my favorite flowers, the cherry blossom, which I believe to be both delicate and rich. This balance is what I was trying to mimic in the cocktail itself. I tried to pull floral notes from some of my favorite spirits and flavors such as cherry, lychee, almond and vanilla. The Reid has been one of my favorite spirits to play with as it is both full bodied and delicate, making it the perfect base for this cocktail. The almost confectionary nature of The Reid blends perfectly with cherry eau de vie, and dry almond liqueur to create a subtle marzipan flavor that is balanced by one of my favorite bitter amaros from Brooklyn. The clarification of the cocktail lends a roundness and subtle creaminess. I believe all these components come together to create a perfect celebration of spring in the city.'
Hyland Vesper at McCully House Inn.
The iconic Vesper Martini is best known for being enjoyed by James Bond in Casino Royale (1953), but it was originally. a collaborative creation between Ian Fleming and London's Savoy Hotel.
This National Martini Day, McCully House Inn in Oregon reimagines the classic recipe with a modern twist. The Hyland Vesper is made with Bombay Sapphire Gin , Stolichnaya Vodka, Lillet Blanc, and a Splash of St. Germain. 'The Hyland Vesper is more than a cocktail; it's an invitation to channel your inner secret agent," said Phil Segal, Proprietor, McCully House Pub & Lounge.
The O.D.B Martini at Meduza Mediterrania in New York City.
At Meduza Mediterrania in New York City, the vodka for this one of a kind martini is infused with crushed Calabrian chilis for a couple of hours and the spicy pickle brine is made in house. A touch of Cocchi Americano, an aperitif wine, is added to the rest of the ingredients to lend body and balance out a little bit of the kick from the chilis.
'This drink actually came about from one of our founder's enjoyment of spicy pickles. He tasked us with creating what a dirty martini with spicy pickles would taste like and this was the outcome. It has become very popular and while polarizing, we've made some new friends thanks to it!" said Juan Carlos Santana, Beverage Director of Meduza Mediterrania.
Ube Espresso Martini at Sunda New Asian.
At Sunda New Asian, which has locations in Chicago River North, Chicago Fulton Market, Nashville and Tampa, Ube Espresso Martini is made with 1800 Reposado, Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, and ube milk.
Sunda New Asian CEO/Founder Billy Dec:" Since opening my first nightclub in my first year of law school at 22, I've been loving espresso at night to stay awake as I've always worked until very late.. I also grew up with my family from the Islands of the Philippines, with Filipino food cooking 24/7, including dishes made with a delicious purple yam called Ube, used in a lot of Filipino desserts… so it is incredibly meaningful and delicious to bring these tasty worlds together at Sunda!"
The Elit at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.
At BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood, the Elit with Stoli elit vodka and caviar-stuffed olives.
"An elevated expression of a martini at its highest form, 'The Elit' is crafted with premium vodka, a touch of vermouth, and Kaluga Caviar stuffed olives. As the tray comes out cooled over smoking ice, you know you are at your favorite steakhouse, BOA," said Tara Shadzi, Bar Manager at BOA.
The Daisy Buchanan at The Cabinet of Curiosities at Horseshoe Las Vegas.
The Daisy Buchanan at The Cabinet of Curiosities at Horseshoe Las Vegas is made with Indigo Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Crème De Violette, Lychee Puree and Lemon Juice.
'The Daisy Buchanan is a gorgeous yet complex cocktail like its namesake with hints of floral and citrus throughout. It's the perfect summer cocktail for Vegas and such a delightful way to celebrate National Martini Day," said Rich Galvan, General Manager Beverage Operations at The Cabinet of Curiosities.
Applez at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa's Ave Restaurant.
At Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa's Ave Restaurant, an elevated Apple Martini using modern cocktail techniques, Applez uses a lacto-fermented green apple base for complex layers of acidity & light salinity, together with Tito's vodka & floral delicate Manzanilla sherry.
Chinese Mustard Martini at House of The Red Pearl at Tin Building in New York City.
At House of The Red Pearl at Tin Building in New York City, the Chinese Mustard Martini brings a salty umami, a dirty martini with an edge of nostalgic Chinese-American bite. Mustard seeds marinated in a savory brine are stirred with crisp vodka and silky blanc vermouth.
'At House of the Red Pearl, we lean into bold, memory-driven flavors that honor Chinese-American cuisine while reimagining it through a modern lens. The Chinese Mustard Martini captures that spirit perfectly—it's savory and playful. Like many dishes on our menu, it takes something familiar and adds a twist that surprises you and leaves you wanting more,' said Lukas Pesek, Senior Vice President of Operations.
Anyone who loves a spirit-forward cocktail that adds a touch of sophistication and luxury would really appreciate a great martini.
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