This post has been sponsored by Finlandia Vodka. As always, all opionions are my own.
Summer is in full force and we are gearing up for a busy August. Last month was all about family, but this month is going to be all about friends. We already have every weekend booked with friends coming over and we cannot be happier, especially if you consider the fact that we did not know anyone when we first moved to Vermont back in February. People around here have been so friendly and welcoming that my husband and I look forward to having them over and return the favor.
What is your process when it comes to entertaining?
For me, I usually make a plan a week in advance and then prep throughout the week. This way I am not juggling through a million things on the day of the party. In terms of the menu, I almost always pick a theme and then decide on the dishes around that theme. However, regardless of the theme I always serve a signature welcome cocktail.
I love serving a welcome drink as it puts people in the mood for a good time as soon as they come in the door. Think about it, who would not want a fruity cocktail that is refreshing and colorful? Believe it or not, my husband even has a “welcome-drink” playlist in his I-Pod. I am telling you, we take this very seriously.
When it comes to deciding on the type of cocktail to make, I take my cue from what is in season. In summer months, I love using berries and then come winter, cranberries, apples, and citrus fruits are perfect to use in signature cocktails.
Once I decide on the fruit, the next decision is what liquor to use to make this Raspberry Martini recipe. Though there are several options, I usually stick to the basics and go for vodka, gin, or tequila.
Because (1) we always have them in our home bar and (2) I learned over the years that when serving for a crowd it is better to keep things simple. If you go for a complicated welcome drink and people want more of it, you might find yourself making drinks all night long.
If I am going for a vodka-based cocktail, I love using Finlandia. It is funny because growing up this was my mother’s favorite vodka and we would always have a bottle of it in our home bar. To this day, I gladly continue the tradition and keep a bottle in our bar as well. I love that it has a clean and smooth taste that pairs so well with fruits.
Also, even though for this raspberry lemon drop martini I opted for the classic Finlandia, they offer a variety of flavors that you can use in your cocktails.
About this Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini Recipe:
As the name suggests, made from raspberries and lemon juice, this is a sweet and sour cocktail. The raspberries were already sweet, but after I mixed them with lemon juice, it needed a little bit more. So for some additional sweetness, I made a quick honey simple syrup, which beautifully balanced the sourness coming from the lemon juice.
To add another layer of flavor, I muddled the fruit and honey simple syrup with a few leaves of fresh mint.
The end product was truly a refreshing and flavorful summer cocktail that I feel confident to serve friends as a welcome-drink for our upcoming parties. As you can see in the quick video above, it was so quick to make and requires just a few ingredients. Plus, if you want to make it even quicker, you can make the honey simple syrup and squeeze the lemons in advance.
So whether you are entertaining a crowd or just looking for an early evening drink to unwind, give this summery raspberry lemon martini a try. I promise it won’t disappoint.
Other Summer Cocktail Recipes You Might Like
Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini
Ingredients
For the honey simple syrup:
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ water
For the rim:
- 1 tablespoon cane sugar
- zest of a lemon
- 1 wedge of lemon for wetting the rim
For the cocktail:
- ¼ cup fresh raspberries
- 2 oz. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 3-4 fresh mint leaves
- 1 oz. honey simple syrup, recipe above
- 3-4 cubes of ice
- 0.5 oz. triple sec
- 1.5 oz. Finlandia vodka
- 1 slice of lemon as garnish
Instructions
- To make the honey simple syrup: mix together the honey and water in a small sauce pan. Cook until honey fully dissolves. Let it cool while you prep the rest of the ingredients. *
- For the rim: Mix together the cane sugar and lemon zest in a small flat plate. Using the lemon wedge wet the rim of a coupe glass. Dip the glass in sugar mixture making sure the rim is fully covered. Place the glass in the freezer.
- To make the cocktail: Place raspberries, lemon juice, fresh mint leaves, and honey simple syrup in a large glass. Muddle until the raspberries are fully pureed.
- Fill a shaker with ice. Pour in the triple sec and vodka. Strain the raspberry mixture. Put the lid on and shake for 40 seconds or so.
- Take out the coupe glass out of the freezer and pour the drink into the glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon and serve.
Video
Notes
- This honey simple syrup recipe makes more than what you need for this cocktail. You can place the rest of it in a jar with a lid and keep it in the fridge up to a week to use in other cocktails.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
