Cherry Martini – Vodka, Sweet Vermouth and Maraschino Cherry Cocktail

The Cherry Martini is a vodka-based cocktail built around sweet vermouth and maraschino cherry juice. Vodka gives it a clean foundation, vermouth adds herbal depth, and cherry brings fruit and sweetness.

Cherry With Herbal Depth

Sweet vermouth keeps the drink from tasting like vodka mixed with syrup. Its herbs, spice, and wine character give the cherry flavor more shape and make the finish feel more like a cocktail than a dessert drink.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Vodka – provides a clean base.
• Sweet vermouth – adds herbal sweetness and wine depth.
• Maraschino cherry juice – supplies cherry flavor and sweetness.
• Maraschino cherry – reinforces the fruit profile as garnish.

Tart cherry juice can replace maraschino juice for a less sweet drink, though the profile becomes sharper and less candy-like.

Equipment

Use a shaker, jigger, strainer, and chilled cocktail glass.

Getting the Sweetness Right

Maraschino cherry juice is potent, so a small measure goes a long way. The vermouth should still be noticeable behind the fruit instead of disappearing completely.

Substitutions & Variations

Use gin instead of vodka for more botanical character, or reduce the cherry juice to a quarter ounce for a drier version.

Helpful Tips

Measure the cherry juice carefully because small changes affect sweetness quickly. Keep sweet vermouth refrigerated after opening.