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Raspberry Martini with Shrub Syrup (Plus Mocktail Spritzer)

Raspberry Martini with Shrub Syrup (Plus Mocktail Spritzer)
Home » Drinks: Cocktails, Drink Syrups, and Mocktails » Raspberry Martini with Shrub Syrup (Plus Mocktail Spritzer)

Quick Summary: Quick Summary: A gin martini made with raspberry shrub syrup and Pimm’s, plus a simple mocktail spritzer version. Shrub syrups add a tangy bite that balances the sweetness of fruit cocktails. Prep: 5 min | Serves: 1

3 raspberry martinis with raspberry syrup in the back ground on a dark tray.
Raspberry martini cocktails made with raspberry drink syrup

Jump to: RECIPE | Best Raspberry Cocktails | Spritzers with no Alcohol | How to Make It | FAQ

Raspberries make festive cocktails with their bright color and sweet-tart flavor. This raspberry martini uses a homemade shrub syrup (fruit syrup with vinegar) for that tangy bite I love in a drink. The same syrup works just as well in a non-alcoholic spritzer if you want something refreshing without the gin.

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Raspberry Cocktails with Shrub Syrups or Simple Syrups

It’s easy to make a craft cocktail when you have a fruit-based drink syrup to add. You can make your own drink syrup or purchase a commercial raspberry syrup. Just know that the commercial syrups are extremely sweet.

Shrub drink syrups are made with a bit of vinegar (they are sometimes called drinking vinegars) and give the drink that tangy bite that some people (like me) love.  

Simple syrups are a bit sweeter (no vinegar), but you can determine how sweet you want the drink by how much syrup you flavor it with.

If you have a bitter palate, add a dash of bitters to the cocktail recipes.

Raspberry Martini made with raspberry shrub syrup
Raspberry Martini made with shrub syrup and bitters

Raspberry Spritzers with no Alcohol:

Tip: A spritzer is a base of bubbly water, which is then flavored with a fruit, a fruit syrup, or a spice syrup.

The carbonated liquid doesn’t have to be water, it can be ginger ale, tonic water, sparkling wine, etc. It does need to have bubbles, however.

The ratios I prefer in spritzers are:

  • 1 1/2 ounce Fruit-based drink syrup
  • 8 oz. sparkling water (optional: ginger ale or tonic water)
  • squeeze of lime

Simply combine the syrup and sparkling water together in a glass filled with ice cubes and stir. Finish with a squeeze of lime.

Raspberry Spritzers made with Raspberry Shrub Syrups
Spritzers made with Raspberry Shrub Syrups

How to Make a Raspberry Martini

The ingredient and recipe details are listed in the recipe card below. In short, fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add raspberry shrub syrup, gin, Pimm’s, and a splash of dry vermouth. Shake, strain into a martini glass, and garnish with cucumber or lemon peel.

FAQ

What is a shrub syrup?

A shrub is a fruit syrup made with vinegar, sometimes called a drinking vinegar. The vinegar adds a tangy bite that balances sweetness and keeps cocktails from becoming cloying.

Can I use simple syrup instead of shrub syrup?

Yes, but the drink will be sweeter and lack that tangy edge. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime to compensate, or use less syrup.

What is Pimm’s No. 1?

A gin-based British liqueur with herbal and citrus notes. It’s optional in this recipe but adds complexity. If you skip it, increase the gin slightly.

How do I make a non-alcoholic version?

Combine 1.5 ounces of raspberry shrub syrup with 8 ounces of sparkling water over ice. Finish with a squeeze of lime. Ginger ale or tonic water also works as the base.

Can I make my own raspberry shrub syrup?

Yes. Combine equal parts raspberries, sugar, and vinegar (apple cider or red wine vinegar works well). Let it macerate for a day or two, strain, and bottle. It keeps for months in the refrigerator.

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Raspberry Martini

3 raspberry martinis with raspberry syrup in the back ground on a dark tray.
A gin martini with a splash of Pimms #1 cup and another splash of a raspberry drink syrup.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 286

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ¾ ounce raspberry Syrup
  • 1 ½ ounces gin
  • 1 ½ ounces Pimms cup #1 liqueur optional
  • splash dry vermouth
  • ice cubes
  • cucumber or lemon peel for garnishes

Instructions
 

  • Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add all ingredients.
    3/4 ounce raspberry Syrup, 1 1/2 ounces gin, 1 1/2 ounces Pimms cup #1 liqueur, splash dry vermouth, ice cubes
  • Strain into martini glass and garnish with cucumber or lemon peel.
  • Stir everything to combine and chill.
    cucumber or lemon peel

Notes

Don’t want alcohol but want a mocktail instead?
Have the raspberry syrup with a spritzer! A spritzer is basically referring to a base of bubbly water, which is then flavored with a fruit, a fruit syrup, or a spice syrup. The carbonated liquid doesn’t have to be water, it can be ginger ale, tonic water, sparkling wine, etc. It does need to have bubbles however.
 
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Nutrition

Calories: 286kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 0.04gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 16mgPotassium: 27mgSugar: 29gCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?If you tried this recipe, please give it a star rating! To do this, just click on the stars above. Comments are always helpful also and I respond to all of them (except rude ones)

About the Author: Dorothy Stainbrook is the writer behind Farm to Jar. She grows heirloom tomatoes, chile peppers, blueberries, and herbs on her 23-acre HeathGlen Organic Farm in Minnesota. A Les Dames d'Escoffier member and a Good Food Awards winner, she's the author of The Tomato Workbook and The Accidental Farmer's Blueberry Cookbook. Learn more...

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  1. […] Try this by By HeathGlen’s Farm & Kitchen. […]

  2. Dorothy Stainbrook says:

    5 stars