Name: English Martini
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 1&frasl;2 fresh Rosemary sprig; 60 ml Gin; 25 ml Elderflower liqueur

English Martini
Jump to

Keep screen awake

Glass:

Serve in a Martini glass

Ingredients:
¹⁄₂ fresh	Rosemary sprig
2 fl oz	Hayman's London Dry Gin
⁵⁄₆ fl oz	Elderflower liqueur

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Prepare:

Select and pre-chill a MARTINI GLASS.
Prepare garnish of rosemary sprig.

How to make:

Strip rosemary leaves from stem and MUDDLE in base of shaker.
Add other ingredients and SHAKE with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish:

Rosemary sprig.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Cocktail of the day:

23rd April 2026 is St George's Day

Review:

Rosemary and sweet elderflower combine wonderfully with the gin botanicals to make an interesting and approachable, if slightly sweet "Martini".

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a drink created in 2003 at MJU at the Millennium Hotel, London, England.
Martini cocktail

Alcohol content:

We don't have enough information to calculate the alc./vol., but based on known ingredients, this recipe contains at least:

23.4 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

Join the discussion

Showing 10 of 18 comments for English Martini.
See discussion in the Forum

Please log in to make a comment

rudy sebille

25th April at 18:08

Le gin apporte une base nette et précise, tandis que la liqueur de fleur de sureau adoucit l’ensemble avec une touche florale délicate. Puis vient le romarin, subtil mais essentiel, apportant une signature aromatique raffinée.
Le résultat est parfaitement équilibré : frais, nuancé et naturellement sophistiqué.
Un cocktail qui n’essaie pas d’impressionner , il le fait simplement.

Mookie

25th April at 01:05

I went with a 4:1 ratio (and of course had to use St George Botanivore gin). I also used a few drops of rosemary tincture instead of the half sprig. Tasty!

David Hoyle

28th July 2025 at 19:36

Having made a few tasty Diffords cocktails with basil, was pleased to find these 13 cocktails involving rosemary. Like another reviewer, I did a 5:1 ratio of Hayman's to Elderflower and also added 10 ml water to make the drink less sweet and intense. Rosemary works beautifully with the gin herbal notes. On a 2nd mix, a bigger sprig meant the rosemary predominated. Very summery and delicate!

Nicholas Wilson

7th February 2025 at 20:21

Tried this with a spritz of lemon zest on top. Nicely cut through the sweetness of the elderflower and complimented the woody rosemary.

Cameron Carter

9th May 2024 at 20:45

I was out of London Dry gin (a rarity) and used Hayman's Old Tom instead. Same proportions and technique. Made a lovely cocktail.

Stephen Edds

1st May 2024 at 13:52

Whose is that amazing glass ? Thanks

Simon Difford

1st May 2024 at 14:22

It is an Urban Bar glass from decades gone by.

1 reply

Jonathan Goldthorpe

23rd April 2024 at 17:26

A most beautiful and fragrant martini. Never used rosemary before in a cocktail- fabulous

William Thee

23rd April 2023 at 19:22

I'd like to know where I can purchase that glass.

Paloma Difford

24th April 2023 at 07:52

Hi William, the glass is about 15, maybe more, years old. We think it was produced at the time by Urban Bar but not available any longer.

Ian Lessels

23rd April 2023 at 18:44

1/2 sprig isn't very S.I.! I used just 1/2 ounce Elderflower and was pleased with the result.

Danielle Something

15th December 2022 at 01:42

This is an amazing martini. I go light on the elderflower and heavy on the Plymouth. The English Martini is the reason I remember to water my rosemary.

See discussion in the Forum