Name: Apple Cider Martini
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 ounces fresh pressed apple cider*; 2 ounces vodka; ½ ounce sweet vermouth; Dash of angostura bitters; Ice for shaking; Apple slices; Cinnamon stick

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe· 5 from 1 review

This apple cider martini is full of crisp apple flavor and not too sweet. It’s made with fresh pressed apple cider instead of the syrupy liqueurs typically found in apple martinis.

Holding a freshly made apple cider martini.

This shaken apple cider martini stays true to its roots with vermouth, vodka, and no added sugar. I wanted to make an apple martini that wasn’t overly sweet and still felt like it belonged in the martini family.

I’ve been testing versions of this for a month and have found that, as usual, simple is better.

This is a perfect fall cocktail. It’s easy yet elegant. It only needs 4 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make. This apple martini is best enjoyed in the fall. When the air is crisp, and the apple cider is freshly pressed!

Ingredients

Vodka, bitters, sweet vermouth, fresh pressed apple cider, an apple, a cinnamon stick, and cocktail making supplies on a bar.

Fresh-pressed apple cider is crisp, sweet, and tart. It carries a lovely apple flavor without using overly sweet or artificial-tasting liqueurs.
Use vodka instead of gin in this take on the apple martini. Use your favorite brand.
The floral notes of sweet vermouth perfectly complement the cider.
A dash of Angostura bitters makes this apple cider martini complex and flavorful without adding extra sweeteners.

Substitutions

Can’t find fresh pressed cider? Use the best quality 100% pure apple juice you can find.

How to make an apple cider martini

A cocktail shaker filled with ice, vodka, bitters, sweet vermouth, and fresh pressed apple cider.

Fill a cocktail shaker half full of ice. Then add the apple cider, vodka, sweet vermouth, and bitters.

Close the lid and shake it vigorously to mix and chill the apple cider martini.

Pouring a chilled and shaken apple cider martini into a martini glass.

Strain it into a martini glass.

An apple cider martini with vodka and apple cinnamon stick garnish.

Garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick if you’re feelin’ fancy.

Serve it immediately while it’s very cold.

More cocktail recipes

What’s your favorite way to enjoy fresh pressed cider? Let me know in the comments!