This 90s Martini Is Set to Be the Drink of Summer. Here’s How to Make It.
The apple martini was first a fruity hit back in the 1990s and it appears it’s making a huge comeback as the drink of summer 2025.
Online searches for ‘apple martini’ and ‘appletini recipe’ have seen a 5000% increase in the past 30 days in the UK.
Therefore, Patrick Pistolesi, Master Mixologist at ready-to-drink cocktail brand, NIO Cocktails, has shared how to make the perfect apple martini with just three ingredients:
“To make an apple martini, you’ll need to pour 50ml of vodka, 50ml of apple juice and half a teaspoon of lemon juice into a glass with ice and stir until mixed. Then, simply strain into a martini glass and serve with a slice of fresh apple on the side.”
Stirred, not shaken – why this is an important step.
“It’s important to stir the ingredients rather than shake them. Shaking the apple martini means the ice will break and chill the drink very fast, but with the risk of over diluting the drink.
Furthermore, shaking in a mixer can also affect the appearance of your apple martini. When shaking the cocktail, small bubbles of air will fill the drink and small shards of ice will stay within the liquid, even after straining. This isn’t ideal if you are making a martini, which is a transparent cocktail, as these small bubbles and ice chips will make the cocktail cloudy looking.
Therefore, I would suggest giving your apple martini cocktail a gentle stir to infuse the flavours with just the right dilution. This way, you can fully immerse yourself in the flavours of the vodka and apple combined.”
Swap apple juice for a boozy alternative.
“For an extra kick, you can swap the apple juice for an apple flavoured liquor like an apple sour.
This will enhance the apple flavour even more, helping your taste buds become fully tantalised by the flavours of this iconic 90s drink.
However, for a more subtle apple taste, whilst still using an alcoholic option, you can use an apple cider in place of the apple juice, which will create a refreshingly, crisp appletini flavour.”
Add apple ice cubes to enhance the fruity flavours more.
“Finally, freezing apple juice to make ice cubes is an effective way to add a refreshing apple flavour to your martini. Simply fill your ice cube tray with fresh apple juice and freeze overnight.
This method will help to elevate the neutral flavours of the vodka by adding a fruity, sweet twist to the smoothness of the spirit.
Alternatively, you can rim your glass with apple sugar for a sweet addition to every sip. Simply combine half a cup of granulated sugar and add a splash of apple syrup before dipping your glass into the mix, ensuring the rim is fully covered before pouring your apple martini in and garnishing it with a slice of fresh apple.”