Not Your Green Juice Martini Recipe

Chill glass

Place a martini glass or coupe in the freezer for at least 5 minutes, or fill with ice and cold water while you prepare the cocktail to chill thoroughly.

Combine ingredients

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz Ford's gin, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, 0.75 oz basil syrup, 0.25 oz dry vermouth, and 0.5 oz green apple juice (if using).

Add ice and shake

Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup). Cap and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is very cold to the touch and the exterior is frosted. This ensures dilution and proper chilling.

Double strain and serve

Discard ice/water from the chilled glass. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled martini glass using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer to remove ice shards and any basil bits, producing a clear, silky drink.

Express and float basil: Clap the fresh basil leaf between your hands to release the aromatics, then rub it around the rim of the glass. Float the leaf gently on the surface of the cocktail.

Add lime wheel and optional microgreens: Slide a thin lime wheel onto the rim or float it alongside the basil leaf. Add a small pinch of microgreens or matchstick basil on top if desired for visual contrast and herbal aroma.

Serve immediately: Present the cocktail right away while cold and aromatic. Encourage the drinker to inhale the basil aroma before sipping to get the 'not your green juice' herb-forward impression.