Eucalyptus Martini Recipe

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 11/29/21
Eucalyptus Martini in a glass, garnished with a floating eucalyptus leaf

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Syrup: 60 mins
Total: 63 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The eucalyptus martini is the creation of mixologist Humberto Marques, owner of the Curfew bar in Copenhagen, Denmark. Marques' focus is on fresh ingredients in cocktails, and he has some wonderful recipes and flavor pairing studies. This is one of his most fascinating creations, and it is truly a unique, innovative cocktail.

The key to this cocktail is the eucalyptus syrup. It is a homemade mixer that flavors a 1:1 simple syrup with fresh eucalyptus leaves, and it's easy to make. When that is paired with a fantastic gin and a little lime juice, the drink comes together with a cooling, refreshing sweetness against a botanical background. You'll also want to add the egg white to get a rich, foamy top that tantalizes your taste buds before that first taste of eucalyptus.

Ingredients

For the Eucalyptus Syrup:

  • 2 cups water

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 1/3 cup fresh eucalyptus, optional

For the Cocktail:

  • 1 1/2 ounces (50 milliliters) gin

  • 3/4 ounce (25 milliliters) eucalyptus syrup

  • 1/2 ounce (12.5 milliliters) freshly squeezed lime juice

  • 3 drops egg white

  • Eucalyptus leaf, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Make the Eucalyptus Syrup

  1. Gather the syrup ingredients.

    Eucalyptus Syrup ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar until it's completely dissolved.

    Water and sugar in a saucepan on a burner, with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 minute. Add the eucalyptus leaves and liquidize.

    Blended eucalyptus, sugar and water mixture in a saucepan on a burner, next to an Immersion Blender

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Pour the syrup into a bowl and cover for 15 minutes. Once cool, the syrup can be stored in a well-sealed container in the refrigerator for about two weeks.

    Eucalyptus Syrup in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Make the Eucalyptus Martini

  1. Gather the cocktail ingredients.

    Eucalyptus Martini ingredients in shot glasses

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, eucalyptus syrup, lime juice, and egg white. Fill with ice.

    Gin, eucalyptus syrup, lime juice, and egg white in shot glasses, ice in a glass bowl, and a metal cocktail shaker

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Shake well.

    Shake the cocktail shaker

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Eucalyptus Martini strained into a cocktail glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Garnish with a floating eucalyptus leaf. Serve and enjoy.

    Eucalyptus Martini garnished with a floating eucalyptus leaf

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk for foodborne illness.

Tips

  • Marques recommends two different gins for this martini: Tanqueray 10 and Martin Miller's Gin. Either is a great choice, and if you want to go with something else, try to keep within the dry gin style for the best taste.
  • Fresh lime juice is going to be the best option for this cocktail. The average lime yields between 1/2 ounce and 1 ounce of juice; you can easily get away with squeezing a whole lime into the shaker.

How Strong Is a Eucalyptus Martini?

This is one of the lightest gin martinis you can mix up, but it still has plenty of flavor and punch. When made with an 80-proof gin, you can expect the alcohol content to be around 17 percent ABV (34 proof), or nearly half the strength of the classic martini.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
683 Calories
0g Fat
151g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 683
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 12mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 151g 55%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 150g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 5mg 24%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 32mg 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.)