Electric Blue Martini
5 min
|
easy
|
gluten-free,
lactose-free,
low-fat
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
This Electric Blue Martini is my no-nonsense riff on a Lemon Drop Martini: clean vodka backbone, blue curaçao for sunny orange, and fresh lemon for that bright, tart snap.
Rimmed in red sugar, it is a showy, ice-cold crowd pleaser for girls' night, Fourth of July, or any time you want a cocktail that tastes as bold as it looks.
Ingredients (1 serving)
Get Ingredients →Order the ingredients from your local store for pickup or delivery. You’ll check out through Instacart.
Ingredients:
- 1½ fl oz vodka vodka 1.5 fl oz
- 1 fl oz blue curaçao blue curaçao 1 fl oz
- 1 fl oz freshly squeezed lemon juice lemon 0.67 ct (for freshly squeezed lemon juice)
- ice ice
- red sanding sugar (for rimming) red sanding sugar 0.2 oz
- lemon, wedge (to moisten the rim) lemon 1 ct
How to Make Electric Blue Martini
-
Chill the glass
Freeze a martini or coupe glass for 5 minutes so the drink stays bracing-cold and silky.
-
Make the red rim
Spread red sanding sugar on a small plate.
Lightly moisten the outer rim with a lemon wedge or a swipe of simple syrup for extra stick, then roll just the outside edge in sugar so it does not shed into the drink.
-
Build the cocktail
Add 1 1/2 oz vodka, 1 oz blue curaçao, and 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice to a shaker.
Fill with ice to the top so you get fast chilling without watering it out.
-
Shake hard
Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds until the shaker is frosty and the cocktail sounds tight and snappy.
-
Strain and serve
Double strain into the chilled glass to keep ice shards and pulp out so the blue stays glassy.
Garnish with a slender lemon twist if you like.
-
Taste check
If you prefer a touch sweeter balance, add 1/4 oz simple syrup next round to round the lemon without muting the blue curaçao’s orange note.
Substitutions
- Blue curaçao -> Triple sec or Cointreau + a tiny drop of blue food coloring
- You keep the bright orange-citrus flavor while matching the electric blue look, and you can fine-tune sweetness since Cointreau is a bit drier.
- Vodka -> Gin or silver tequila
- Gin adds a botanical snap that plays nicely with citrus while staying crisp, and tequila gives a bolder, agave-forward edge without changing the color.
- Red sanding sugar -> 1:1 mix of granulated sugar and crushed freeze-dried raspberries
- You get the same festive red color with a tart-berry lift and a natural vibe that clings well to the rim.
Tips
- Half-rim strategy
- Sugar only half the rim so every sip lets you choose clean or sweet, which keeps the cocktail balanced and not candy-like.
- Fresh juice, fine strain
- Squeeze lemon to order and fine strain it into the shaker to ditch pulp, which keeps the drink vivid and not cloudy.
- Ice matters
- Use large, solid cubes in the shaker for quick chilling and controlled dilution so the finish stays tight and not watery.
- Pre-batch for parties
- For a 4th of July crowd, combine 1 1/2 cups vodka and 1 cup blue curaçao in a bottle and chill, then shake each drink to order with 1 oz fresh lemon and ice so the brightness stays fresh.
- Stick the rim like a pro
- Simple syrup grips sugar better than citrus and keeps the crystals from sliding, especially in humid weather.
- Color control
- If your blue looks dull, your curaçao might be lighter in hue, so add a tiny drop of blue coloring or 1/4 oz more curaçao and rebalance with a splash of lemon.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 102 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 0 | g |
| Total Fat | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 2 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- My sugar rim keeps sliding off. What am I doing wrong?
- Start with a completely dry, chilled glass, moisten only the outer rim, and use simple syrup instead of citrus for a stronger hold; press gently into sugar rather than twisting hard.
- The drink tastes too tart. How do I fix it without making it cloying?
- Add 1/4 oz simple syrup and shake again, or swap to a slightly sweeter curaçao; keep lemon at 1 oz so the color stays bright and the citrus does not flatten.
- Why did my cocktail turn greenish instead of blue?
- Too much yellow from lemon juice or using lime can push the hue toward green, so keep to the listed ratios and use fresh lemon in a clear glass.
- Can I make a nonalcoholic version?
- Use a zero-proof vodka alternative, 1 oz blue curaçao syrup or blue orange syrup, and 1 oz lemon juice, then shake and strain the same way.
- Can I make it without a cocktail shaker?
- Use a well-sealed mason jar with ice for a hard shake, then pour through a fine mesh strainer to catch chips.
- How can I batch ahead without losing freshness?
- Pre-mix only the spirits and chill, then add fresh lemon and shake with ice per serving so the aroma pops and the texture stays lively.
Serving Suggestions
Perfect for the 4th of July, go full red, white, and blue with a half red rim and a skinny lemon twist, plus two dashes of orange bitters to deepen the citrus glow without adding sweetness.
For a flirty twist, swap vodka for coconut rum or add a 1/2 oz splash of pineapple juice, then pair with salty potato chips or grilled shrimp to make that bright blue pop even harder.
Reviews
We haven’t received any feedback on this recipe yet.
Made this recipe? How did it go?
Please leave your feedback below. We’d love to hear from you!
