Pistachio Martini
Vodka, pistachio cream liqueur and a splash of cream, shaken cold. Sweet, nutty and smooth.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Martini glass
- Strength
- 2.1 UK units
How to make a Pistachio Martini
- Chill the glass. Fill a martini glass with ice and cold water and leave it while you make the drink. It should feel properly cold to the touch.
- Shake everything with ice. Add the vodka, pistachio liqueur and cream to a shaker, fill it with ice and shake hard for about 12 seconds, until the tin is frosted and too cold to hold for long.
- Double strain into the glass. Tip out the ice water, then pour through a Hawthorne and a fine strainer. The drink should be pale green and smooth, with no ice chips.
- Add the pistachios. Scatter a little finely crushed pistachio over the surface. Serve straight away while the foam is still on top.
- Glass
- Martini glassNo martini glass? A coupe or any small stemmed glass. Chill it first.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Crushed pistachios on the rim or sprinkled on topOr: Leave it plain, or add a pinch of grated white chocolate.
What you need to make a Pistachio Martini
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Cocktail shakerA two-piece Boston tin is the easiest to use and clean.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Fine strainerA small tea strainer catches ice shards.
Bottles we'd use
- Pistachio cream liqueurBrands vary in sweetness, so taste first and reduce the amount if yours is very sugary.Find it on Amazon
- A clean vodkaAnything neutral works. Absolut or Smirnoff is plenty.Find it on Amazon
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The Pistachio Martini story
The Pistachio Martini is a recent drink. It spread quickly on menus and social media in the 2020s, alongside a wider appetite for pistachio desserts, and nobody has a documented claim to inventing it. Treat any single origin story with caution.
It works because pistachio cream liqueur is already sweet and rich, so the vodka only needs to give it backbone. Keep the cream light and shake hard for a thick, cold finish. If it tastes too sweet, add a little more vodka rather than less liqueur.
Pistachio Martini: your questions answered
What is in a Pistachio Martini?
A Pistachio Martini is made with 40 ml vodka, 30 ml pistachio cream liqueur and 20 ml double cream. Garnish: crushed pistachios on the rim or sprinkled on top.
Is a Pistachio Martini shaken or stirred?
A Pistachio Martini is shaken, not stirred. Shaking hard with ice chills it quickly and helps whip the egg or cream into a light texture, which stirring cannot do. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.
How strong is a Pistachio Martini?
Made to this recipe, a Pistachio Martini contains about 2.1 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Pistachio Martini in?
Serve a Pistachio Martini in a martini glass. No martini glass? A coupe or any small stemmed glass. Chill it first.
