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Want the perfect Appletini cocktail recipe? We got you covered!

You make an Appletini by mixing Vodka, Apple Schnapps, and Triple Sec.

And yes, it’s as every bit as delicious as it sounds.

Let’s dive a little deeper into this recipe.

Quick & Easy Appletini Cocktail recipe - how to make the perfect Appletini

What is an Appletini?

The Appletini, or Apple Martini as it’s otherwise known, is a Martini-style cocktail that fuses together Vodka, Apple Schnapps, and Cointreau to product a rather drinkable beverage.

The ingredients are mixed together using a cocktail shaker and the drink is served in a cocktail glass.

Click here to jump directly to our perfect Appletini recipe.

Who invented the Appletini?

The Appletini is believed to have been invented in 1996 or 1997 in a Hollywood bar called Lola’s.

Originally, it was named the Adam’s Apple Martini because after bartender who created it, Adam Karsten and it’s apple flavouring.

Since then, the name of the cocktail has been shortened to Appletini because, well, it’s a little more catchy.

Just Like the Moscow Mule

The origins of the cocktail have similar ties to the invention of the Moscow Mule in that the drink was created out of stock bar owners wanted cleared.

Apparently the owner of Lola’s, Loren Dunsworth, wanted rid of Ketel One Vodka and Apple Schnapps because neither were selling well at the bar and Adam Karsten stepped up to the plate…and smashed it out of the park.

What does an Appletini taste like?

There’s a common misconception out there that Appletini’s are radioactive green, that’s too sweet and tastes like a Jolly Rancher.

That’s because over the years, people have altered the recipe over the years, some achieving the level of sweetness described above.

But our recipe, indeed, the traditional Appletini cocktail recipe isn’t nearly as sweet and is rather boozy.

What’s in an Appletini?

Our Appletini contains Vodka, Apple Schnapps, and Triple Sec.

Below are our recommendations for these different alcohols, but feel free to jump directly to the Appletini cocktail recipe here.

Vodka

We compared 12 different brands of Vodka and determined that Smirnoff was the overall best option. Given the current climate with Russia, that may seem like a questionable choice, but Smirnoff isn’t made in Russia, it’s made all over the world.

It actually has a history of Russian persecution and the creators were forced to flee Russia.

 

Apple Schnapps

And here comes the apple flavour of this Appletini cocktail recipe.

For Apple Schnapps, we recommend:

Teichenne Red Apple Schnapps (70cl)
Teichenne Red Apple Schnapps (70cl)
Price: £14.40
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FYI - if you click this link and buy something, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What is Schnapps?

Schnapps is a type of alcohol that may take several different forms. These include:

These are all made by adding syrups, spices, or artificial flavourings to neutral grain spirits.

Why is it called Schnapps?

The word Schnapps comes from the German language and in the mother tongue it’s used in reference to spirits, usually meaning a strong alcoholic drink.

Triple Sec

The third alcoholic element to our Appletini cocktail recipe is Triple Sec.

Triple Sec is a style of Orange Liqueur and you can read more about it in our detailed article.

For Triple Sec, we recommend:

What do you need to make an Appletini?

Next up, what cocktail equipment do you need to make an Appletini? Let’s take a look.

Again, click here to jump straight to the recipe if you want to.

Cocktail Shaker

Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.

There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bonds says “shaken, not stirred”. And that reason is: because it tastes better.

If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed Cocktail Shaker comparison article.

But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:

Jigger

It’s important to get the mix of any cocktail right. The measurements are set for a reason – to specify a tried, tested, and tasty drink.

The Appletini is no different.

A jigger is going to help you get those perfect measurements – after all, it is what the pro’s use.

For a jigger, we recommend:

Cocktail Glass

This Appletini cocktail recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.

Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.

And the right glass for the Lemon Drop Martini is a cocktail glass.

We recommend:

How do you Garnish an Appletini?

As you can see from our Appletini cocktail recipe above, the traditional way to garnish an Appletini is with a slice of Apple.

Our Appletini Cocktail Recipe

Here’s our Appletini cocktail recipe:

Appletini cocktail recipe

Appletini

★ ★ ★ ★ ★(109 ratings)
Prep: 1 minMaking: 1 minTotal: 2 mins
Serving: 1 cocktailCalories: 185

Ingredients

 

 

Recipe

With a Cocktail Shaker:

Without:

When’s a Good Occasion to Drink an Appletini?

Any occasion is a great time to drink an Appletini!

But seriously…an Appletini is great for any cocktail night, especially if you have a sweet tooth.

Want More Cocktail Recipes?

Do you love our Appletini cocktail recipe, but want to try something a little different? We’ve got you covered!

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Further Reading

Kris Barton Author
Cocktail connoisseur and season mixologist, Kris Barton has been making (and more importantly drinking) cocktails for most of his adult life. He's the author of all of these quick & easy cocktail recipes you'll want to drink over and over again.

Kris' Bio