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Earl Grey Martini

Earl Grey Martini on a cocktail beverage Napkin
Photograph by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Jesse Szewczyk, prop styling by Astrid Chastka

This mar-tea-ni is here to challenge the espresso martini as the caffeinated cocktail du jour. Bartender extraordinare Audrey Saunders first paved the way with her ever-popular Earl Grey-tini at Pegu Club in New York City. And unlike the aforementioned coffee cocktail, you don’t need to buy any special-flavored liqueurs or pull shots of espresso to make one. Plain vodka is ideal for extracting flavor without heat. Simply steep tea bags in room-temperature vodka to infuse the spirit with notes of citrusy, bittersweet bergamot and black tea in only five minutes. The resulting vodka pairs nicely with dry vermouth and fresh lemon for a floral, frothy cocktail ready for happy hour—or even tea time.

Shaking your cocktail with an egg white creates a creamy, rich texture that mimics the foamy smoothness of a London Fog (an Earl Grey tea latte). It also tones down the sharpness of the drink, mellowing out the vodka’s burn to create a chiller sip. We promise it’s delicious. But for those opposed to the idea of drinking raw egg whites, this cocktail is still wonderful without it.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    10 minutes

  • Yield

    Makes 4

Ingredients

10 oz. vodka
4 Earl Grey tea bags
2 oz. dry vermouth
4 large egg whites*
4 3x2" strips lemon zest
4 tsp. honey

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place 10 oz. vodka and 4 Earl Grey tea bags in a small bowl, making sure tea bags are submerged. Cover and let sit at room temperature 5 minutes (vodka should turn a smoky quartz hue and smell fragrant). Uncover, remove tea bags, and squeeze over bowl to release all of the vodka; discard.

    Step 2

    To make 1 cocktail, combine 2½ oz. infused vodka, ½ oz. vermouth, 1 large egg white, one 3x2" strip lemon zest, and 1 tsp. honey in a cocktail shaker. Stir until honey is dissolved, then fill halfway with ice. Cover and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very frosty, 30–45 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

    Do Ahead: Vodka can be infused 1 month ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.

    *Raw egg is not recommended for the elderly, pregnant individuals, people with weakened immune systems…or people who just don’t like raw egg.

TagsMartiniCocktailAlcoholBeveragesVodkaEarl GreyBlack TeaTeaVermouthQuickDairy FreeBon Appétit

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