Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces silver tequila
- ¾ ounce blanc vermouth
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1-2 dashes of orange bitters
- Ice
- Lime wedge and orange ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, silver tequila, blanc vermouth, lemon juice, and orange bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge and orange ribbon.
Variations and Substitutions
You can enjoy a fair bit of wiggle room and interpretation of the tequila martini recipe and ingredients.
- Skip the silver tequila in favor of añejo or reposado for a slightly smoother flavor.
- If you can't get your hands on blanc vermouth or you don't have any on hand, don't let this stop you from enjoying a tequila martini. You can use dry vermouth in its place.
- Add an extra dash of orange bitters for a stronger orange herbaceous flavor.
- Swap in lemon bitters for a brighter citrus feel without any added sour notes.
- Change the lemon juice for lime juice.
Garnishes
Feel free to skip the double garnish in favor of just one-- or change it entirely.
- Instead of a lime wedge, consider a lime wheel or slice.
- Skip the lime in favor of an orange or lemon wedge, wheel, or slice.
- You can use a lemon or lime ribbon, peel, or twist instead of orange.
- Using a dehydrated citrus wheel or slice imparts a unique and contemporary look.
About the Tequila Martini
Unlike most drinks named martini that are martini in name only, such as the appletini or espresso martini, the tequila martini might be the closest to the original. Although it does include a few extra ingredients and opts for vermouth that isn't dry, the tequila martini tips its hat to the originals.
The tequila martini slowly crept into the public during the rise of the martinis, notably in the 1990s. The blanc vermouth replaces the dry vermouth found in martinis. While they share some characteristics and can stand in for one another in necessary cases, the blanc vermouth has sweeter notes and a floral touch. The inclusion of orange bitters echoes some vodka martinis that occasionally, and very acceptably, include orange bitters, depending on the region and bartender.
Tequilatini? Tequini? Maybe It'll Be Clear After a Sip
Whether you go with its formal name, tequila martini, opt for a shorter name, tequilatini, or cut right to the chase, tequini, there's no wrong way to reference this drink. Maybe it'll get easier to decide after a sip or two; the name must surely be at the bottom of the martini glass.
