A summery way to dress up your average martini recipe is to add fresh fruit flavors to an already beloved formula. Take orange martinis, for example, as you can modify them to fit your personal tastes by adjusting the tartness, sweetness, and overall power of the cocktail with just a few simple steps. To get you started, take a look at these different orange martini recipes, all of which will leave you with that lingering taste of orange zest that you know and love long after you've finished your drink.
Orange Martini
A classic orange martini differs from a classic martini in that it adds orange bitters and triple sec to impart a true orange flavor without diluting the cocktail's strength.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 2 ounces vodka
- Splash dry vermouth
- Dash orange bitters
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, combine the triple sec, vodka, vermouth, and bitters.
- Add ice and gently stir.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish with an orange wheel.
Burnt Orange Martini
If you like a cocktail that's a bit more original, try out this burnt orange martini, which combines the popular apéritif, Aperol, orange vodka, and orange bitters for a distinctively orange-flavored drink.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Aperol
- 2 ounces orange vodka
- Dash orange bitters
- Ice
- Dried orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, combine the Aperol, orange vodka, and bitters.
- Add ice and gently stir.
- Strain the mixture into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with a dried orange wheel.
Utah Arches Martini
Inspired by the colors of the natural landscape in Arches National Park, this Utah Arches martini brings Campari, orange infused gin, and sweet vermouth together for a richly colored, smooth drink.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Campari
- 2 ounces orange infused gin
- Splash sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the Campari, orange infused gin, and sweet vermouth.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish with an orange wedge.
Fall Festival Martini
Perfectly spiced for the autumn season, this fall festival martini will make your lips tingle. To make one, just combine Fireball whiskey with orange vodka, and add a few fun garnishes on top to really bring the drink together.
Ingredients
- Orange wedge for garnish
- Light brown sugar for garnish
- ½ ounce Fireball whiskey
- 2 ounces orange vodka
- Ice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- Run an orange wedge around the rim of a martini glass and dip it into a plate full of light brown sugar. Set aside.
- In a mixing glass, combine the Fireball whiskey and orange vodka.
- Add ice and gently stir.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with a citrus twist.
Blood Orange Martini
Take the tanginess of the shockingly vibrant blood orange fruit and mix it into a martini using this blood orange martini recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- ½ ounce blood orange simple syrup
- 2 ounces vodka
- Ice
- Blood orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the blood orange juice, simple syrup, and vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish with a blood orange wheel.
Orange Old Fashioned Martini
An old fashioned is one of the oldest mixed drinks in the world, and this orange old fashioned martini attempts to marry the historic cocktail with a modern format.
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 ounces whiskey
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
- Cherry for garnish
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the sugar cube and bitters.
- Add ice, the orange juice, whiskey, and water. Shake to chill.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish with an orange wedge and a cocktail skewer with a cherry and lemon twist.
Zesty Chocolate Martini
Orange and chocolate are a winning combination, and this zesty chocolate martini proves that you can't go wrong with turning drinks into dessert.
Ingredients
- Orange wedge for garnish
- Shaved chocolate for garnish
- 1 ounce Godiva chocolate liqueur
- 1 ounce crème de cacao
- ½ ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce orange vodka
- Ice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- Run an orange wedge around the rim of a martini glass and dip it into a plate filled with chocolate shavings. Set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the Godiva chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, triple sec, and orange vodka.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Ways to Garnish an Orange Martini
Citrus cocktails are some of the most fun to garnish because their foundational fruits are easily transformed into artistic decorations that are simple to make but look difficult to replicate. Check out these garnish ideas for some inspiration on how to garnish your own orange martinis at home.
- An orange twist on a cocktail's rim exudes a certain sense of elegance to any drink.
- Modify the original cocktail olive garnish by skewering an orange section and dropping in it your drink to enjoy later.
- Sprinkle some sugar around the edge of your cocktail rim for some added sweetness.
- Topping off a finished drink with some orange zest is sure to impress any crowd.
- Add a few orange blossoms on top of your drink for a delicate touch.
Orange You Glad It's 5 O'clock Somewhere?
Orange martinis are delicious because they teeter that line between sour and sweet, and are just strong enough to masque the flavor of powerful liquors so that even the most novice drinkers can enjoy them. Either way, it's time to take a trip down your citrus aisle and see which unique orange varieties you want to try out in your drink next.
