IdealCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Ideal sits in that elegant, spirit-forward corner of the cocktail world where gin meets vermouth in a poised, pre-dinner style. You’ll recognise the silhouette: a short, aromatic serve that nods to the classic gin-and-vermouth tradition, but with a small twist to pull it away from the purely herbal and into something brighter. Its exact origin isn’t widely documented, so it’s best understood as a refined, Martini-adjacent variation built for balance rather than bravado.
On the palate, the gin’s crisp botanicals lead, while red vermouth brings a rounded, winey sweetness and gentle bitterness that softens the edges. A dash of grapefruit juice lifts everything with a clean, citrus snap, making the vermouth feel lighter and the gin feel more vivid. The maraschino cherry adds a subtle, dark-fruit sweetness that tucks into the background, smoothing the finish without turning the drink candy-like.
Serve this when you want something grown-up and compact: an aperitif before dinner, a first round at a cocktail party, or a quiet nightcap that still feels polished. You’ll enjoy it if you like gin drinks with structure, vermouth-driven complexity, and just enough citrus to keep each sip feeling fresh.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Tags
Cocktail Colin says:
Gin and red vermouth lead with juniper and dark, winey sweetness, while a dash of grapefruit juice adds a bright, pithy snap and a dash of maraschino cherry brings a faint almond-cherry perfume on the finish. The citrus lift keeps the vermouth from feeling heavy and the cherry accent rounds the edges, making it ideal for fans of aromatic, spirit-forward aperitifs.
Method
How to make a Ideal
- Gin 30ml, Red vermouth 30ml, Grapefruit juice Dash, Maraschino cherry Dash
-
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker over ice
-
- Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
-
- Garnish with a cherry and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Ideal with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
How do I properly shake the cocktail Ideal?
To properly shake the Ideal cocktail, fill a shaker with ice cubes, add 30ml of gin, 30ml of red vermouth, a dash of grapefruit juice, and a dash of maraschino cherry liqueur. Secure the lid or shaker tin on top and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds or until the outside of the shaker feels cold. This integrates the ingredients well and chills the mixture effectively.
What garnish works best with the Ideal cocktail?
Given the ingredient list, a thin slice of grapefruit or a twist of grapefruit peel makes an excellent garnish for the Ideal cocktail. Not only does this enhance the visual appeal of the drink, but the aromatic oils from the grapefruit peel also add a delightful fragrance and taste that complements the cocktail's flavors.
What is the ideal glassware for serving the Ideal cocktail?
The Ideal cocktail is best served in a chilled cocktail glass. This type of glass, traditionally known for its wide bowl and stemmed design, showcases the drink's elegant color and ensures that it remains cold without the need for additional ice, which could dilute the drink.
How does the alcohol content of the Ideal cocktail compare to a standard gin martini?
The Ideal cocktail has an alcohol content of 28%, which is slightly lower than a standard gin martini, which typically ranges between 30-32% alcohol by volume (ABV). This difference is primarily due to the addition of non-alcoholic ingredients like grapefruit juice in the Ideal, which dilutes the overall alcohol content.
What are some good food pairings for the Ideal cocktail?
The Ideal cocktail, with its unique blend of gin, red vermouth, and citrus from grapefruit juice, pairs well with appetizers like seafood canapés, oysters, or light cheese platters. Its refreshing profile also complements spicy dishes, as the citrus can help balance the heat.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Indulge in this well-balanced martini with olives.
The Perfect Martini
Gin, Red vermouth, Olive juice
Dive into this potent mix of spirits
Aunt Roberta
Brandy, Vodka, Absinthe, Gin, Blackberry liqueur
Enjoy this bold balance of gin and Campari
Negroni
Gin, Campari, Red vermouth
Dive into this rosemary-infused gin delight.
Tuscan Blue Fizz
Gin, Soda water, Rosemary syrup
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments