The Hottest Drink Of The Summer Is The Tomato Tini
One of the most popular cocktails of the moment is the dirty martini. The otherwise simple beverage benefits from a splash of savory olive brine to form an unexpectedly refreshing sip. If you’re the kind of person who loves garnishing their drink with an olive (or three), you’ll love this summery spin on a savory cocktail.
Tomatoes vs. olives:
Instead of olive brine, this martini gets its rich flavor and vibrant color from tomatoes. If you’re skeptical, hear us out: Think of this cocktail as a cleaner, crisper version of a Bloody Mary. And the botanical flavors of gin also pair surprisingly well with the tomato, and evokes flavors of both the fruit and the leaves of the plant (an aroma that has inspired many trendy candles, BTW).
Tomato types:
We tried many iterations of this recipe, using virtually every form of tomato. We tried using fresh tomatoes and tomato juice before deciding to draw our flavor from tomato paste. As much as we love the crispness of fresh tomatoes, you’re only going to get the best results in the peak of summer. Tomato paste is more simple, more consistent, and far more concentrated in flavor. And as a bonus: You can enjoy this tomato martini year round.
Big batch:
We combine the tomato paste with enough vermouth to make 2 martinis, but you can also scale the recipe to make a batch version to serve a crowd. You can also make the tomato-vermouth mixture up to 2 days in advance—just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then give it another shake when you’re ready to assemble your cocktails.
Did you try making this? Let us know how it went in the comments!
Yields: 2 servings
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Ingredients
2 oz.
dry vermouth
1 tbsp.
tomato paste
Kosher salt
Ice
4 oz.
gin
Fresh basil leaves, for serving
Directions
Place 2 martini glasses in the freezer to chill, if desired.
In a container with a lid, combine vermouth, tomato paste, and a pinch of salt. Cover and vigorously shake until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine gin and 2 ounces tomato-vermouth mixture. Cover and vigorously shake until outside of shaker is very frosty, about 20 seconds.
Double strain into prepared glasses. Garnish with a basil leaf.
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