Rose 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 05/13/21
Rose Martini

The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
193 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 193
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 39%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 38mg 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.)

The simple touch of rose can take the average martini to a new level, filling it with delightful and gentle floral notes. This cocktail was inspired by fragrant summer gardens in full bloom, and it is a great addition to any outdoor party. It's also a fabulous martini for romantic occasions and sweet spring affairs like Mother's Day.

This martini is great with any of the newer, lighter styles of gin, such as Hendrick's or Aviation, though it's quite enjoyable with dry gins as well. The rose flavor is a nice pairing for gin's botanicals and is obtained by simply using a rose-infused syrup. You can buy it or make rose syrup at home with rose water. Having a bottle around is a nice way to add a quick floral touch to other drinks that call for plain simple syrup.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Rose Martini ingredients

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, dry vermouth, and rose syrup. Fill with ice.

    cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, gin, dry vermouth, and rose syrup

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  3. Shake well.

    shake the cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    strain the cocktail into a glass

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  5. Add a few dashes of grapefruit bitters. Garnish with a rose petal or lemon twist.

    grapefruit bitters added to the rose martini

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Tips

  • If you prefer your martinis stirred, that's a great choice for this recipe as well.
  • Storebought rose syrup is available from a few companies, including Monin and Torani, which are two well-known brands. This is a very specialized flavor, however, so you might have an easier time ordering it online rather than searching a local store.
  • Whether making rose water (you can also buy it) for the syrup or garnishing the martini, it's important that the roses have not been sprayed with nasty fertilizers or insecticides. You want to make sure your roses are safe and edible so none of the chemistry gets into your drink.
  • Consider, too, that some people are allergic to roses. Before serving this to guests, be sure to ask just in case.

Recipe Variations

  • Transform this into a rose-flavored vodka martini if you prefer. Just be sure to choose a top-shelf vodka to ensure you get a nice, clean taste.
  • Grapefruit bitters add a nice accent, though orange bitters are a good alternative.

How Strong Is a Rose Martini?

Martinis may look all fancy and genteel, but they are some of the strongest cocktails you can mix up. The rose martini is no exception. Behind that sweet floral taste lies an alcohol content of around 26 percent ABV (52 proof). It's the same strength as a cosmopolitan and over half that of the gin you pour into it.