Indulge in this simple Earl Grey Marteani recipe! Crafted with Earl Grey infused Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white for a frothy texture, this refreshing cocktail is an absolute delight for the fall.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
2 minutes
Servings:
1
Calories:
195
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Earl Grey infused Gin - combining London Dry Gin and Earl Grey tea leaves
- 1 oz simple syrup
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 egg - keep the white, discard the yolk
- Ice cubes
- Powdered sugar - for riming, optional
- Lemon twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Martini or Coupe Glass
- Cocktail Shaker
- Martini Glass
- Cocktail Strainer
- Fine strainer
- Measuring Jigger
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill a Martini glass with ice. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
- Add Egg White: Open 1 egg, separate the white from the yolk, and pour the white into the shaker. Discard the yolk.
- Add Lemon Juice: Pour ¾ oz fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
- Add Simple Syrup: Add 1 oz simple syrup.
- Add Gin: Measure and pour 1½ oz Earl Grey infused Gin into the shaker as well.
- Rim Glass: Discard the ice from the Martini glass and rim half of it with sugar (to do so, use a lemon wedge to slightly wet the rim of the glass, and then, delicately press the edge of the glass into the surface of a plate filled with sugar).
- Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice. Close it well and shake the ingredients vigorously for about 15 seconds.
- Dry Shake: Open the shaker. Using the cocktail strainer, pour the liquid in the other tin and discard the ice. Close the shaker again and shake another time, for 15-20 seconds, without ice this time.
- Strain: Using the fine strainer, strain the mixture into the glass.
- Garnish: Express the lemon zest on top of the glass (you can either discard it after or place it on the rim of the glass for an added citrus touch). Serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Gin: Vodka can be a good substitute if you don't have Gin. It will give the drink a smoother, less botanical flavor.
- Lemon Juice: In a pinch, lime juice can work as a substitute for lemon juice. It will give the drink a slightly different flavor profile, but it's still delicious. Although the final result won’t be as fresh as if using freshly squeezed juice, bottled juice can also be used if you don’t have any lemons on hand.
- Simple Syrup: If you're out of simple syrup, you can make your own by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over low heat. Alternatively, agave nectar or honey can also work as sweeteners.
Making a Pitcher of Earl Grey Marteani:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, omit the egg white and multiply all the other ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of Earl Grey infused Gin, 8 oz of simple syrup, and 6 oz of fresh lemon juice.
- Prepare glasses: Using a lemon wedge and powdered white sugar, rim 8 Martini or coupe glasses. Set them aside.
- Mix: Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher. Fill it with ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice, serve immediately into the sugar-rimmed glasses, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Gin Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic gin substitute and infuse it with Earl Grey (see recipe in a few sections below). There are several brands available that do a good job of mimicking the botanical flavors of Gin. You can also make your own substitute by infusing loose Earl Grey tea in cold water (approx. 10g of loose tea for 1 liter of water) and letting it infuse overnight in the refrigerator. The day after, you can filter it and mix it with a bit of soda water (try starting with 1 part soda water for 4 parts cold brewed tea and adjust to taste). Stored properly (in an airtight container in the fridge), this “tea-gin” can be kept for up to a week.
- Proceed As Usual: Use the non-alcoholic gin substitute instead of regular Gin and follow the original steps to enjoy a non-alcoholic version of this cocktail.
Making it Vegan:
- Simple Syrup: Ensure your simple syrup is vegan-friendly (some sugars are processed using bone char, which is not vegan). If you’re not sure, you can make your own syrup at home in a few minutes using organic, vegan-certified sugar.
- Egg white: if you want to make your cocktail foamy, you can use ½ ounce of aquafaba (chickpeas water) to replace the egg white. Follow all the steps, as aquafaba also needs to be shaken twice to make a proper foam.
- Proceed As Usual: Using these vegan substitutes, simply follow the original steps and enjoy a delicious Earl Grey Marteani.
What is an Earl Grey Marteani?
An Earl Grey Marteani is a gin-based cocktail made of Earl Grey-infused gin, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice and egg white. This drink takes the classic martini to another level by adding the unique flavor of Earl Grey tea.
Making an Earl Grey Marteani can be slightly challenging as it requires infusing Gin with Earl Grey tea leaves for several hours or overnight and also requires to be shaken twice to get the proper frothy texture.
What is an Earl Grey Marteani made of – The ingredients
For the creation of an Earl Grey Marteani, you require these ingredients:
- Earl Grey Tea: This is the star ingredient of the cocktail, providing a unique citrusy and floral flavor profile. It’s infused into the Gin to create a distinctive base for the drink.
- Gin: A clear spirit known for its botanical flavors, it serves as the alcoholic base of the Marteani. The Earl Grey tea is infused directly into the Gin, enhancing its complexity.
- Simple Syrup: This mixture of sugar and water adds sweetness to balance the bitterness of the tea and Gin, making the cocktail more palatable.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a tangy kick to the Marteani, complementing the Earl Grey tea’s citrus notes and brightening the overall flavor.
- Egg White: Like in many classic cocktails, egg white gives the Marteani a frothy, silky texture. It also helps mellow out the tannic and slightly bitter flavor of the Earl Grey tea.
- Lemon Zest Twist (for garnish): This enhances presentation and adds an extra hint of citrus aroma every time you take a sip.
How do you make an Earl Grey infused Gin?
To prepare an Earl Grey infused Gin you will need:
- Approx. 3 tablespoons (7,5g) of Earl Grey tea leaves (loose).
- 1 bottle (750 ml) of London Dry Gin, originally Tanqueray.
Once you have them, follow the next steps to get it ready to be able to prepare your Earl Grey Marteani cocktail:
- Add the Earl Grey tea leaves into the bottle of Tanqueray gin (or other high-proof dry gin), cap, and shake.
- Let sit in the fridge for 2 hours. Taste it and leave it to infuse longer if you want a stronger taste (up to 8 hours).
- Strain the infused gin through a fine strainer and then through a coffee filter into a separate container.
- Rinse the bottle to remove loose tea, and pour the gin back into the clean bottle. This tea-infused gin can be stored for a very long time (+/- 1 year) if refrigerated.
