Gin and Ginger 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 12/3/21
Gin and Ginger Martini

bhofack2 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
273 Calories
0g Fat
25g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 273
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 27mg 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.)

It doesn't get much easier than this little gin and ginger martini! Also called la coloniale, it is a fantastic drink recipe for anyone who appreciates the sweet snap of ginger liqueur and, with just two ingredients, it mixes up quickly.

If you love the taste of the ginger martini, you'll find this recipe to be a very pleasant experience. Switching from vodka to gin offers a new depth to the drink that's quite lovely, especially if you choose a complex London dry gin with bold botanicals. The cucumber slice is an odd choice, but a nice touch that adds a subtle freshness to the drink which works surprisingly well against the ginger.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin

  • 1 1/2 ounces ginger liqueur

  • Cucumber slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the gin and ginger liqueur.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Garnish with a cucumber slice. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • For the ginger liqueur, you have a few options. Domaine de Canton is one of the best-known and it's very easy to find. You might also like the bolder profile (and higher proof) of The King's Ginger. A few craft distilleries, including New Deal and Greenbar, offer the flavor as well.
  • As with any drink that's not served over ice, you'll find this one is much better when served in a chilled cocktail glass. If you don't have one pre-chilled, place a few ice cubes in the glass while you shake up the drink, then discard them prior to straining.
  • This is one of those cocktails that brings up the "shaken or stirred" question. The gin, as well as the fact that it's made only of liquor, would indicate that stirring is the better option, but it's customarily shaken. Give both a try and see which method you enjoy best.

Recipe Variation

If you want a drink that's a little lower proof, substitute the liqueur for ginger syrup. It's an easy homemade ingredient if you have the fresh ginger root in the house. You will need to dissolve 1 cup of sugar in 3/4 cups of boiling water. Add 1 cup of sliced ginger, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Once off the heat, keep the syrup covered and let it steep until cool before straining out the ginger pieces.

How Strong Is a Gin and Ginger Martini?

Not only does the gin and ginger martini have a wonderful bite of flavor, but it also has a nice alcohol kick. This one's sure to grab your attention and mixes up to an alcohol content around 29 percent ABV (58 proof), placing it among the strongest martinis you can make.

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