Bitter orange & cardamom martini Cocktail 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.
You’ll find the Bitter orange & cardamom martini sits in the modern “martini” family: vodka-forward, citrus-led, and built for a crisp, aromatic impression rather than old-school vermouth richness. It reads like a contemporary twist that borrows from the citrus martini boom, then nudges things into a more culinary direction with marmalade and cardamom. Instead of leaning on a long backstory, it’s all about a bold flavour idea—bright orange, sharp lemon, and warm spice—pulled into a sleek cocktail-glass serve.
Vodka gives you a clean base, letting the Cointreau’s orange sweetness take the lead. Lemon juice brings a firm, mouth-watering tartness that keeps the drink snappy, while a spoon of marmalade adds concentrated bitter-orange depth and a subtle, jammy richness. Cardamom pods layer in a fragrant, spicy lift that plays especially well with the orange notes, making the citrus feel more complex and perfumed.
Serve this when you want something zesty but not simple—ideal as a pre-dinner drink or whenever you’re craving a sharp, aromatic “up” cocktail. It suits you if you like citrus martinis with extra bite, and it’s a great pick for fans of orange-forward drinks who also enjoy a hint of spice in the finish.
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.
Cocktail Colin says:
Vodka lays a clean base while Cointreau and lemon juice drive a sharp orange-citrus snap, with marmalade adding bitter-sweet peel and a faint jammy thickness as cardamom pods lift the nose with warm spice. It works because the lemon’s acidity reins in the marmalade’s sweetness and the cardamom’s perfume bridges vodka and orange; ideal for drinkers who like bracing, aromatic, citrus-forward “martinis.”
Method
How to make a Bitter orange & cardamom martini
- Vodka 60ml, Cointreau 20ml, Lemon juice 60ml, Marmalade Tablespoon, Cardamom pods 2
-
- Heat up the marmalade gently in a saucepan to make it runny
-
- Add in the cardamom pods and crush to release their flavour
-
- Once warmed for a couple of minutes take off the heat and leave to cool for 20 minutes
-
- Once cooled, add the Cointreau and lemon juice to a mixing glass and add in the marmalade cardamom mixture, and stir to combine
-
- Take a chilled martini glass and add a dollop of marmalade to the bottom, before pouring in the mixture
-
- Serve with a cardamom pod floating on top to garnish
Power tips
Elevate the Bitter orange & cardamom martini 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- Use freshly ground cardamom pods for a more potent and aromatic flavor.
- Chill the mixing glass and ingredients beforehand to maintain a colder final result.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the best way to prepare the cardamom pods for the Bitter Orange & Cardamom Martini?
The best way to prepare the cardamom pods for this cocktail is to gently crush them before adding them to the cocktail mix. This helps release their aromatic oils and flavor without overwhelming the drink. You can use the flat side of a knife or a mortar and pestle to lightly crack them open before stirring them into the drink.
Can I substitute the Cointreau in the Bitter Orange & Cardamom Martini?
Yes, you can substitute Cointreau with other orange-flavored liqueurs such as Grand Marnier or Triple Sec. However, keep in mind that each liqueur has its own sweetness and alcohol content, which can slightly alter the taste and strength of the martini.
How can I adjust the Bitter Orange & Cardamom Martini if I find it too sweet?
If you find the Bitter Orange & Cardamom Martini too sweet, you can adjust the sweetness by reducing the amount of marmalade or Cointreau. Alternatively, you can add a bit more lemon juice to add acidity and balance out the sweetness.
What is the significance of stirring instead of shaking this martini?
Stirring the Bitter Orange & Cardamom Martini instead of shaking helps to maintain a silky texture and clarity in the drink. Shaking can introduce air bubbles and cause the ingredients, especially the marmalade, to emulsify, leading to a cloudier and slightly frothier drink. Stirring keeps it smooth and allows for a more delicate integration of flavors.
Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Bitter Orange & Cardamom Martini?
Yes, to make a non-alcoholic version of the Bitter Orange & Cardamom Martini, you can substitute the vodka and Cointreau with non-alcoholic spirits that mimic their flavor profile. For the vodka, look for a clear, non-alcoholic spirit, and for the Cointreau, use an orange-flavored non-alcoholic syrup or cordial. Adjust the ratios to taste, keeping in mind the sweetness and flavor intensity of your substitutes.
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
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