Apple Cider Martini

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 01/23/23
Apple Cider Martini
Brian Leatart / Photodisc / Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

This apple cider martini recipe is not your average apple-flavored martini. It has a couple of extra flavors that make it a multidimensional tasting experience and a very interesting cocktail. It's designed more for drinkers who enjoy drier drinks over the supersweet appletinis.

The drink was created by and features Ultimat Vodka, which is ultra smooth and clean. It provides a nice base for the apple and ginger combination. The velvet falernum, which is essential in many tiki cocktails, is the finishing touch that brings everything together. It's a fantastic fall cocktail that makes a pleasant addition to any party or occasion, even if it's just dinner at home.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 ounces vodka

  • 1/4 ounce ginger liqueur

  • 1 1/2 ounces apple cider

  • 1 splash velvet falernum

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all of the ingredients.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a cocktail glass.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • For the cider, try using the freshest cider available. During the autumn months, it's relatively easy to find freshly pressed cider at apple orchards and in grocery stores, where it's typically found chilled in the produce department.
  • For the ginger liqueur, Domaine de Canton is a nice option and one of the easiest to find. The King's Ginger is another excellent liqueur that's worth hunting down.
  • Velvet falernum is a syrup flavored with lime, clove, and other ingredients, often including ginger and almond. John D. Taylor is the most popular option and it's actually a low-proof liqueur. Other companies, including Fee Brothers (makers of a popular line of bitters) and Tippleman's offer a nonalcoholic falernum syrup that is a good substitute.

Recipe Variations

  • A flavored simple syrup can be a good substitute for the falernum, especially considering it's just a splash in this martini. Try complementary flavors for the apple cider, like cinnamon syrup or a spiced brown sugar syrup.
  • Flavored vodkas are always an option in martinis. For this recipe, think about pouring a vanilla vodka, which would be absolutely perfect. Pear or herb or spice vodkas (e.g., rosemary or cinnamon) would be interesting as well, especially if you do your own infusion.
  • For a totally different spirit, pour cachaça instead of vodka. The sweet rum-like spirit is a perfect pairing for apple cider.
  • Apple juice can be used as a substitute for apple cider. The biggest difference between the two is that the juice is filtered to help with preservation, so it doesn't quite have the rich, raw apple flavor.

How Strong Is an Apple Cider Martini?

Not only is this martini delicious, but it's also pretty light on the alcohol compared to other vodka martinis. On average, it's going to weigh in around 17 percent ABV (34 proof), or slightly stronger than a glass of wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
163 Calories
0g Fat
9g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 163
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 18mg 90%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 50mg 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.)

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