Fig Martini with Fresh Fig Vodka and Pear
This Fig Martini with fresh fig infused vodka might just be my new favorite fall cocktail. Made with homemade fig vodka, pear nectar, thyme simple syrup, fresh lemon juice and Cointreau. It’s slightly sweet, a little tart and full of those early fall flavors I can’t seem to get enough of right now.
And that color! All from letting those figs hang out in the vodka for a few days. Then add pear, thyme and citrus and yep, this one’s a keeper.
There isn’t some great story behind this martini. I’ve just been slightly obsessed with fresh figs lately, and I thought, why not infuse one of my favorite spirits with them and turn it into a cocktail?
So I did.
And WOW.
This is a dreamy little fall concoction and exactly the kind of fall signature cocktail I love serving for a dinner party. It feels special, but most of the work can be done ahead of time. Make the fig vodka, mix up the thyme simple syrup and when your guests arrive, all you have to do is shake and pour.
And if we’re having a fig moment, like me, we might as well go all in. Serve these alongside my Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini with Fresh Figs and you have one very good start to a fall dinner party.
Why You’ll Love This Fig Martini
The fig infused vodka is what makes this cocktail a little different from your usual fall martini. Fresh figs have such a delicate sweetness, so they don’t turn the vodka into something sugary. Instead, you get a subtle fig flavor, a hint of vanilla and that gorgeous color.
Then comes the pear nectar, which is pretty much made for figs. Fresh lemon juice keeps everything bright, Cointreau adds a little orange, and the thyme simple syrup brings in just enough of that herby fall flavor.
Basically, there’s a lot going on in this glass, but everyone is getting along.
You can also shake the martini with an egg white for that creamy, frothy top. Totally optional. Delicious either way. But if I’m serving these at a dinner party, I’m going for the foam. We’ve already infused our own vodka. We may as well show off a little.
How to Infuse Your Own Fig Vodka
If you’ve never infused vodka before, don’t let the word infuse make this sound like a project. It isn’t.
For my homemade fig infused vodka, I used ripe fresh figs and a vanilla bean. That’s it.
Cut 5-7 fresh figs in half and place them in a clean glass jar or jug. Split 1 vanilla bean lengthwise and add it to the jar. Pour in the vodka, seal the jar and let it sit for about 3 days.
Over those few days, the figs will slowly infuse the vodka with their flavor and turn it the most beautiful color.
Once you’re happy with the flavor, strain the vodka well to remove the figs, vanilla bean and any little bits of fruit. Store the strained fig vodka in a clean, tightly sealed bottle or jar until you’re ready to make cocktails.
Ingredients You’ll Need for a Fig Martini
- Fig Vodka: I make my own by infusing vodka with fresh figs and a vanilla bean for three days. It’s ridiculously easy and gives the vodka that gorgeous color along with a subtle fig flavor. But sometimes you want a Fig Martini and didn’t have the foresight to start infusing vodka three days ago. I get it. You can absolutely pick up a bottle of fig flavored vodka instead.
- Pear Nectar: Just a little adds another layer of fruitiness that works beautifully with the figs without taking over the cocktail. If you don’t have it, you can leave it out. The martini will still be delicious.
- Thyme Simple Syrup: A little sweetness with a hint of fresh herb is exactly what I wanted here. Thyme and fig are such a good fall combination. Plain simple syrup will work too, so don’t let the lack of fresh thyme stand between you and your martini.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Fresh is the word to pay attention to here. It cuts through the sweetness of the fig, pear and simple syrup and keeps the cocktail bright. Grab a lemon. We’re making a fancy martini. We can squeeze one.
- Cointreau: Yes, Cointreau is an orange liqueur and technically falls into the triple sec family, but this is where I’m reaching for the good stuff. Cointreau is made with both sweet and bitter orange peels and has a bright, concentrated citrus flavor that brings a little more depth and balance to the cocktail. We infused our own fig vodka, people. This is not the time to cut corners.
How to Make Thyme Simple Syrup
Homemade thyme simple syrup sounds fancy. It is not. It’s so darn easy.
Simple syrup is just equal parts sugar and water. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme and you’ve got an easy herb infused simple syrup that is so good in fall cocktails.
Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan and warm it just until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, remove from the heat and let everything sit together for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Pour it into a jar and you’re done.
I don’t even bother straining out the thyme. I leave the sprigs right in the jar. They look pretty and the thyme flavor continues to hang out in there.
How to make a Fig Martini
Once your fig vodka and thyme simple syrup are ready, making the actual Fig Martini is the easy part.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the fig infused vodka, pear nectar, thyme simple syrup, fresh lemon juice and Cointreau. Give it a really good shake until the outside of the shaker is nice and cold.
Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass and garnish with a fresh fig and a sprig of thyme.
That’s it. And just look at that color.
Want a Frothy Top?
Add an egg white to the cocktail shaker along with all of the ingredients, but hold the ice.
Shake everything really well first. This is called a dry shake and helps the egg white create that beautiful foam. Then add your ice and shake it again until very cold.
Strain into your glass and give it a minute for that silky layer of foam to settle on top.
Is the egg white necessary? Nope.
Does it make your Fig Martini look like it belongs in a NYC cocktail lounge? Absolutely.
And if egg white isn’t your thing, try Fee Foam. Just a couple of drops in the shaker will give you that pretty frothy top without cracking an egg. It won’t be quite as silky as an egg white, but when you’re making cocktails for a group, it’s a pretty nifty little bottle to have handy.
Maybe you’re not into cracking eggs while you’re making cocktails for your guests. I get it. Either way, for a dinner party, I’m going with the foam.
Tips for the Best Fig Martini
Use fresh lemon juice. I know I already said it, but I’m saying it again. It makes a difference, especially in a cocktail with sweeter ingredients like fig and pear.
Chill your glass. Pop your martini or coupe glasses in the refrigerator or freezer before your guests arrive. It’s one less thing to think about later and keeps that cocktail nice and cold.
Don’t overdo the pear nectar. We’re making a Fig Martini, not a pear martini. You just want enough pear to add a little fruitiness in the background.
Taste your fig vodka. Homemade infusions can vary depending on how ripe and flavorful your figs are. Give it a taste after a few days. If you want a little more fig flavor, let it sit longer and taste it again before straining.
Other Fall Martinis You’ll Love
If you’re anything like me, once September rolls around the cocktail cabinet starts looking a little different. Bring on the pears, apples, herbs, cinnamon sticks and all those cozy fall flavors.
If you loved this Fig Martini, try a few of my other favorite fall martinis:
Let’s Get Figgy With It
I couldn’t resist.
If fresh figs have been sitting at the market looking all pretty while you walk right past them, this is your sign to finally grab a container. Make the fig vodka, whip up a batch of thyme simple syrup and invite a few people over.
While you’re at it, make the Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini with Fresh Figs. I guess we’re fully committed to figs now.
And if easy seasonal recipes, cocktails and gathering your favorite people around the table sound like your kind of thing, join the Cozy Crew. We’ll get into all those fall flavors together, along with easy entertaining ideas, dinner party menus and plenty of tips for getting most of the work done before your guests arrive.
And if you make this Fig Martini, I would truly love to hear about it. Leave me a comment below and tell me what you think.
Fig Martini with Fresh Fig Vodka and Pear
Equipment
- 30 oz jar for infused vodka
- Sauce Pot for thyme simple syrup
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
Fig Infused Vodka
- 30 oz vodka
- 5-7 fresh figs cut in half
- 1 whole vanilla bean split lengthwise
Thyme Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 3-4 sprigs thyme
Fig Martini
- 2 oz fig vodka
- ½ oz pear nectar
- ½ oz thyme simple syrup
- ¼ oz Cointreau
- ½ oz lemon juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
Fig Infused Vodka
- Add the halved figs and split vanilla bean to a clean glass jar or jug.
- Pour in the vodka, making sure the figs are submerged, and seal the jar.
- Let the vodka infuse for about 3 days, then give it a taste. Depending on how ripe and flavorful your figs are, you may want to let it sit a little longer. Taste as you go and strain it when the fig flavor is where you want it.
- Strain the vodka well into a clean bottle or jar, removing the figs, vanilla bean and any little pieces of fruit.
Thyme Simple Syrup
- Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Add the fresh thyme sprigs, remove from the heat and let the syrup sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Allow it to cool completely and pour it into a jar.
Fig Martini
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the fig infused vodka, pear nectar, fresh lemon juice, thyme simple syrup and Cointreau.
- Shake really well until the cocktail is nice and cold.
- Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
- Garnish with a fresh fig and a sprig of thyme and serve right away.
