Sapphire Martini

Known for its vibrant blue color, this sapphire martini is a bright, citrusy drink made from a mix of Bombay Sapphire Gin, blue curacao, and dry vermouth.

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About Sapphire Martini

Everyone loves a pretty party drink, and there are few as vibrant (or as easy!) as a blue sapphire martini.

As fans of this drink already know, this drink is best when it has a simple presentation. Garnishes tend to be simple, with either a single lemon twist, orange twist, or a maraschino cherry dropped in the bottom of the glass (as pictured).

However, if you wanted to go all out and coat the rim with white or blue sanding sugar, I’m certain no one would complain.

This drink is a great fit for any color-themed party, too. Its bright blue hue is ideal for any winter holiday, a favorite sports team, or even certain movies.

What is in a sapphire martini?

There are a couple of different ways to make this martini, but it usually boils down to two or three key ingredients:

• Gin – Every mixed drink needs a core spirit, and for the sapphire martini, that’s gin.
• Blue curacao – Made from the peels of the laraha citrus fruit, blue curacao has a sweet (and slightly bitter) citrusy taste that blends well will with both sharp and sweeter flavors. And if you’re at all curious why a vibrant blue liqueur would taste like citrus, you can read more about the origins of blue curacao here.
• Dry Vermouth – Vermouth brings with it the taste of herbs, bark, flowers, and other botanicals. It adds complexity and depth to mixed drinks while still keeping the ingredient list small. However, if you’d like your martini to have a simple, bright flavor, feel free to skip the vermouth.

What type of gin should you use?

Sapphire Martini enthusiasts will insist upon using Bombay Sapphire Gin for this drink, and the reasoning is obvious: the bottle carries the same sapphire hue that makes this mixed drink so appealing. That color is only on the bottle, though, and not the gin itself, which is the same color as most gins: crystal clear. But Bombay Sapphire Gin does come with its own hints and flavors that do an excellent job of complimenting this martini. Check out this review of Bombay Sapphire Gin to see if it’d be a good fit for your pallet (and your bar).

However, you can easily use your favorite dry gin for this drink – and, honestly, that’s typically what I do. I like to stock my bar with the essentials that will work with a wide variety of drinks and a gin that fits my price point always seems to fit the bill for mixed drinks like this.

Can you make this drink in advance?

Yes, you totally can mix the core drink ingredients in advance! Prepare the drink as instructed and then store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before serving.

Can you make a big pitcher of sapphire martini?

Yes! There are no special “effects” with this drink (such as layering, gradients, etc) so it’s perfectly safe to mix this drink and serve it in a big batch.

And in order to make a big batch, all you need to do is measure this drink in parts.

Recipes that measure in parts usually mean it’s written so that you can adjust the size of the drink to whatever you want. The measurements they give you (1 part, 1/2 part, etc) are so you can keep the ratio of the ingredients correct.

For example, let’s say you wanted to make one drink – this typically means you’re using 1 standard shot glass for measuring. So then when the recipe says “1 part” you would interpret that amount as “1 standard shot glass” full. If the recipe says “1/2 part” you’d fill the shot glass halfway so that it’s “1/2 standard shot glass.” OR, let’s say you wanted to make enough drinks for a few friends. When making the drink you could interpret “1 part” as “1 cup” (or “1/2 part” to “1/2 cup.”)

Given the above, to measure a lemon drop martini in parts, you would need:

• 4 part gin
• 1 part blue curacao
• 1 dash of dry vermouth
• Ice and a maraschino cherry, per glass

notes & tips for this blue sapphire martini

• To get the true look of this martini you need to serve it in a martini glass. Be sure your bar is stocked with some before whipping up this drink!
• You can garnish this drink with a twist of lemon or orange, a slice of lemon or orange, or a single maraschino cherry. I like the look of dropping a maraschino cherry in the martini glass because it creates a pretty red hue near the bottom of the drink when viewed from the side (as pictured).
• Like most mixed drinks, you’ll need a trusty cocktail shaker to make this blue cocktail. I use a Mason Jar and Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker Set that has a rustic look that’s fun for parties. If you already have a ton of mason jars and just need a cocktail shaker lid, you can pick up on here: Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker Lid.

More great drink recipes

How to make a sapphire martini

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – Fill a cocktail shaker full with ice, then add the following ingredients: gin, blue curacao, and dry vermouth (if using).

Step 2 – Shake!

Step 3 – Pour and enjoy!