Are you a Discerning Drinker?
Join thousands of like-minded professionals and cocktail enthusiasts, receive our weekly newsletters and see pages produced by our community for fellow Discerning Drinkers.
Forum
English Martini
Rosemary and sweet elderflower combine wonderfully with the gin botanicals to make an interesting and approachable, if slightly sweet "Martini"
David Hoyle
28th July 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!
7th February 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.
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.
1st May 2024 at 13:52
Whose is that amazing glass ? Thanks
1st May 2024 at 14:22
It is an Urban Bar glass from decades gone by.
23rd April 2024 at 17:26
A most beautiful and fragrant martini. Never used rosemary before in a cocktail- fabulous
23rd April 2023 at 19:22
I'd like to know where I can purchase that glass.
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.
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.
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.
15th October 2022 at 21:50
I made this drink with Aviation gin, because my wife isn't a huge fan of juniper but I wanted to use some of the rosemary we had. It's a very enjoyable drink, with all three elements being present. I did adjust the recipe to make it smaller, but it looks very nice in a Nick and Nora glass.
15th July 2022 at 03:28
This drink is one of my absolute favorites-- a go to. However, I prefer different proportions. I mix a 5:1 ratio, usually 2.5 oz. gin, .5 oz elderflower. Basically, I'm treating the liqueur as a vermouth stand-in. I also generally Stir rather than Shake. The gin really carries this, with the herbal and floral notes giving it a bright pop and roundness. Not too sweet.
27th June 2022 at 00:29
I didn't especially care for this one. Maybe I should have used a different gin (I had some Tanqueray to finish), or added lime juice per the suggestion below. As it was, it just read as slightly sweet pine, and not in a pleasant way.
27th June 2022 at 12:59
Sounds like Hendrick's floral notes work well with the elderflower. Happy you've found a harmonious gin.
27th June 2022 at 12:02
Update: remade this with Hendrick's and enjoyed it a lot more. I think sweetness was less an issue for me the first time than how Tanqueray just loudly overpowered the more delicate flavors of the Saint Germain and rosemary. The change of base spirit corrected that.
18th June 2022 at 01:49
Sorry! Too much Elderflower. Drop it in half. But I guess that is like the "how much Vermouth in a Martini" discussion. Might try Sally's suggestion and add some Lime for Acid. (It's no longer a Martini but a Cocktail though)
17th December 2023 at 17:47
I added just 1 cl of lime juice and 1 dash of orange bitters, to balance out the sweetness of the Saint- Germain I used and that worked out splendid !
4th October 2021 at 23:33
Quite lovely.
30th December 2020 at 22:41
This is very nice. Well balanced
6th June 2020 at 21:18
Added slight squeeze of fresh lime juice to mellow the sweetness
26th May 2020 at 01:27
this drink is so rosemary-is/