Orange Martini

Orange Martini

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

It's easy to give your martini an orange twist. This orange martini recipe is delicately flavored with citrus and can work with either gin or vodka. It's a brilliant dinner drink that pairs well with salmon, salads, or any other light meal.

The recipe uses the classic martini base of gin or vodka with dry vermouth. The orange flavor is added with the sweetness of triple sec and the zing of orange bitters. Finish it off with a long orange twist—spritzing the oils into the drink if you like—and a simple, elegant, and great tasting cocktail is ready to enjoy.

Many people prefer their orange martini with vodka because it offers a neutral flavor and it is an excellent way to showcase your favorite top-shelf vodka. Switching to gin introduces botanical flavors and creates a beautifully complex citrus cocktail. It also offers different flavor choices that are dependent on the gin. An aromatic London dry gin is always welcome in a martini but this cocktail is equally pleasant with a gin that has a fruitier profile and downplays the juniper.

"This was a pleasant surprise. Most fruit “martini’s” turn out not to be a true Martini and are often sickly-sweet cocktails. This drinks like the true dinner time cocktail and has incredible balance. This one is definitely going to be a frequent aperitif to those beautiful summer dinners with friends and family." —Sean Johnson

Orange Martini Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for an Orange Martini
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios
  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin or vodka, dry vermouth, triple sec, and orange bitters. Fill halfway with cracked ice.

    Shaking an Orange Martini
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios
  3. Shake well.

    Shaking an Orange Martini With Cracked Ice
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios
  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Straining an Orange Martini
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios
  5. Garnish with the orange twist. Serve and enjoy.

    Orange Martini
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Tip

  • Shaking with cracked ice gives the cocktail an icy layer after straining. It's particularly nice with this drink; try it and use it for other drinks if you like it. Ice cubes work just fine, too.
  • You can use your blender to quickly crush ice; just be sure to strain off any extra water before adding it to the shaker. A better option is to place ice cubes in a lint-free towel or cloth bag (a Lewis bag is designed for this purpose) and whack them with a rolling pin, muddler, or mallet. It is even noisier but can also be wonderful stress relief.
  • For the triple sec, select a premium brand or switch to a top-shelf orange curaçao. There are many inexpensive bottles of orange liqueur available, though these can ruin a drink, especially when it's the featured ingredient as it is in this martini.
  • Be sure to chill your cocktail glasses in the refrigerator or freezer. You can also give them a quick chill by filling each glass with crushed ice while you're mixing the drink.

Recipe Variations

  • Switch to a premium citrus-flavored vodka to enhance the orange even more.
  • If you want to go sweeter (or simply make the drink more festive), rim the glass with sugar and finely grated orange zest.

How Strong Is the Orange Martini?

This beautiful cocktail should not be underestimated. The orange martini is made entirely of liquor and its alcohol content falls around 28 percent ABV (56 proof). That's over half the strength of the gin or vodka you pour, and you'll likely feel its effects after just one or two rounds.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
192 Calories
0g Fat
7g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 192
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 28mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)