Tomato Martini

When tomato season is popping off, it helps to have a few tomato cocktail recipes in your back pocket. This Tomato Martini is a briny, savory gin martini that celebrates tomato in two ways: fresh cherry tomatoes and Tomato Vermouth. Add brine, vinegar, salt, basil, and lemon and you basically have a snack in cocktail form.

How to Make a Tomato Martini

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the cherry tomatoes, olive brine, Champagne vinegar, flaky sea salt, basil leaves, and lemon juice. Gently muddle until the tomatoes have released their juices and the basil is fragrant.
2. Add the gin and tomato vermouth, then fill the shaker with ice.
3. Shake vigorously until well chilled.
4. Double strain evenly into two chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glasses.
5. Garnish each cocktail with a cherry tomato and finish with a few drops of extra virgin olive oil and cracked black pepper just before serving.

Tomato Martini Ingredients

Gin

Some gins are milder than others, but for this special Tomato Martini I used Luxardo London Dry Gin. Check out my Gin Guide for more tips and the bottles I recommend.

Tomato Vermouth

The Veso Tomato Vermouth is made with heirloom tomatoes with a little bit of young tomato leaves and kombu mixed in. Those savory ingredients are then mixed in a white wine for a super savory, umami vermouth that was simply made for this Tomato Martini. Substitute regular dry vermouth and add tomato syrup.

Cherry Tomatoes

Any variety of cherry tomatoes will work, but the little round red ones will give the cocktail a deeper reddish-pink flavor than if you used yellow, orange, or purple.

Olive Brine

True to any dirty martini, the Tomato Martini has added brine. I use olive brine because olives and tomatoes are the most perfect combination on earth.

Champagne Vinegar

In addition to fresh lemon juice, Champagne vinegar adds more savoriness and a bright crispness that really helps highlight the tomato flavor. You can use white wine vinegar instead.

Basil

What is a tomato without basil, truly?

Tips for Making the Best Tomato Martini

• Only use in-season cherry tomatoes for this martini. You want that sweet, summery tomato smell when you take that first sip.
• The tomato vermouth is a special and unique ingredient that really makes this cocktail what it is. I promise you won’t just use it for this one recipe, though. If you drink martinis or anything else with dry vermouth, you can use the tomato vermouth as a direct swap for a little added savoriness.
• Use very cold ingredients and shake the cocktail shaker with ice until the outside gets frosty, that’s when you know it’s ready.
• Double strain the tomato martini to get all the cherry tomato and basil bits out. It’ll create a smoother, more pleasant drinking experience.
• You can grill your tomatoes before adding to the shaker for an even more rich, complex, and slightly smoky flavor profile.

Why You’ll Love a Tomato Martini

• Obviously if you love a gin martini or a dirty martini, the Tomato Martini is bound to be your new summer cocktail.
• Because tomato season is always too short and we can always use more ways to enjoy them.
• Anyone who prefers a savory, salty, briny cocktail will love a Tomato Martini.