The apple martini, commonly referred to as the appletini, is a subtly fruity take on the traditional martini. It is J.D.'s drink of choice on the TV show Scrubs. He orders his apple martini "easy on the 'tini."
Classic Apple-Flavored Martini Recipe
A simple apple martini recipe can be as bare as apple vodka chilled and served straight up in a martini glass, but if the red apple flavor is desired, you may want to opt for ingredients that liven up the cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of vodka
- 1 ounce of apple schnapps
- 1 ounce of Cointreau
- 1 ounce of apple juice
- Ice
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, schnapps, Cointreau, and apple juice.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with an apple slice.
Washington Red Apple Martinis
A Washington red apple martini is most likely inspired by the state's most famous apple, the Red Delicious. This fruit is heart-shaped and bright red, and its flavor is sweet. Due to both its flavor and its very crisp texture, the Red Delicious has become a favorite snacking fruit as well as an inspiration for creative cocktail recipes.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Crown Royal apple whisky
- ¾ ounce sour apple schnapps
- ¾ ounce cranberry juice
- Ice
- Red apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the whisky, schnapps, and cranberry juice.
- Add the ice and shake.
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with an apple slice.
Other Variations on the Apple Martini
If those aren't enough options already, there are several other variations on the appletini:
- Use gin or Cognac instead of vodka.
- Add Midori for a really green martini.
- Add a splash of Cointreau for a slight orange flavor.
- Add pineapple juice for a pine-apple martini.
- Add apple syrup in addition to apple liqueur for a more intense apple flavor.
- If you are watching your sugar intake, try a sugar-free apple martini mixer like Baja Bob's.
- Swirl caramel sauce in the glass before straining the cocktail for a Caramel Appletini.
- Rim the glass with apple-flavored cocktail sugar.
Making Appletinis
Diehard martini drinkers might roll their eyes if you order an Appletini, but they probably aren't aware that this cocktail has many incarnations. It can range from bright green and sickly sweet to champagne-colored with gourmet ingredients. However, there are a few things that most apple martinis have in common. These are vodka, an ice-filled shaker with a strainer and a martini glass. The mixers are interchangeable.
Apple Schnapps
One of the most common mixers for Appletinis is apple schnapps. It can also be labeled "apple liqueur" and is usually a golden color. You can also use Sour Apple Pucker which is bright green and tastes like candy.
Apple Puree
For foodies, it is not proper to make an apple martini without using homemade apple puree. To do so, combine 1/2 cup simple syrup with one or two chopped green apples. Blend them together. You can also try red apples for a red apple martini. Be sure to use a strainer after you shake your cocktail to remove any remaining large apple pieces. As an alternative to puree, you may use apple juice or cider. For a stronger cocktail, you should still add some apple liqueur in addition to the vodka.
Garnishes
The ideal garnish for this cocktail is a thin slice of granny smith apple. If you are skilled with a knife, try cutting a long, thin segment of apple peel that will coil and create a pretty design in the glass. Many bartenders garnish green Appletinis with maraschino cherries. For cocktails that are more golden than green, red apple slices look nice.
Enjoy an Apple Martini
If you love the flavor of apples, then you'll enjoy these tasty apple martinis. They are a combination of sweet and tart that is sure to hit the spot.
