
The Ultimate Earl Grey Martini
Everyone know the martini is one of James Bond’s favourite tipple – but that’s not where this drink began. It’s actually a lot older than this 60’s classic. Making the martini a classic of its own and a favourite of so many.
So where did this potent cocktail originate? Well, there’s much dispute as to its origin…
Some say the dry martini was invented in England in the late 1800’s and named after the martini-henry rifle, which was a favourite of the royal army. Another legend claims that a bartender called Professor Jerry Thomas, while working at the Occidental Hotel in San Franciso, created the cocktail for a prospector who was on his way to the town of Martinez.
Wherever the potent drink was first made– with its ratio of equal parts London dry Gin and Dry Vermouth – nothing else says class in a glass quite like Bond’s favourite.
And did you know it’s not just our favourite spy who had a thing about it being shaken not stirred? Even Fanny Craddock, author of the 1930s Savoy cocktail book , insisted a martini should be thoroughly shaken so it remains chilled.
Some may say you can’t perfect perfection – but at Leafy Bean we beg to differ because we’ve put our own cheeky twist on martini. And we guarantee you’ll feel ever so glam drinking this…even if sitting on your sofa in your slippers!
What you will need:
A martini glass
A good quality Gin to infuse with our earl grey tea (you want to avoid too many overpowering botanicals)
About 4 tbsp of Leafy Bean Co’s loose-leaf Duke of Earl Grey tea
1oz simple sugar syrup (click here for our special recipe)
1 egg white
Make it pretty:
Sugar rim, bergamot flowers, a lemon twist, or if you’re feeling fancy you can even add some edible flowers

Earl Grey Martini
So let’s get shaking…
Firstly you will need to infuse your gin. This is a great experiment but does take a few hours.
Grab your gin bottle (750ml) and pour the 4 tbsp of Duke of Earl Grey into it, pop the cap back on and give it a really good shake. Then gab a book, make yourself a cuppa, and sit down to let your gin sit for at least two hours.
After it’s infused strain, your gin through a very small sieve or use a coffee filter in to a jug. Clean out your gin bottle and make sure you get all the loose leaf tea out, then pour your infused gin back in. This gin can be stored in the fridge where it will last forever (if you don’t drink it all at once).
Now you’ve got your gin, you can move on to shaking that cocktail!
- Pop your glass in the freezer to chill (this can be don in advance). You want to rub a rim of sugar around the top and set it to one side.
- Pour all the ingredients into our cocktail shaker and give it a really good shake without the ice
- Then add the ice and shake again
- Strain it into your chilled glass
- Then it’s time to garnish with whatever garnish makes you feel the fanciest!
Finally, kick back and relax. Bond would be proud!
The Ultimate Earl Grey Martini
Everyone know the martini is one of James Bond’s favourite tipple – but that’s not where this drink began. It’s actually a lot older than this 60’s classic. Making the martini a classic of its own and a favourite of so many.
So where did this potent cocktail originate? Well, there’s much dispute as to its origin…
Some say the dry martini was invented in England in the late 1800’s and named after the martini-henry rifle, which was a favourite of the royal army. Another legend claims that a bartender called Professor Jerry Thomas, while working at the Occidental Hotel in San Franciso, created the cocktail for a prospector who was on his way to the town of Martinez.
Wherever the potent drink was first made– with its ratio of equal parts London dry Gin and Dry Vermouth – nothing else says class in a glass quite like Bond’s favourite.
And did you know it’s not just our favourite spy who had a thing about it being shaken not stirred? Even Fanny Craddock, author of the 1930s Savoy cocktail book , insisted a martini should be thoroughly shaken so it remains chilled.
Some may say you can’t perfect perfection – but at Leafy Bean we beg to differ because we’ve put our own cheeky twist on martini. And we guarantee you’ll feel ever so glam drinking this…even if sitting on your sofa in your slippers!
What you will need:
A martini glass
A good quality Gin to infuse with our earl grey tea (you want to avoid too many overpowering botanicals)
About 4 tbsp of Leafy Bean Co’s loose-leaf Duke of Earl Grey tea
1oz simple sugar syrup (click here for our special recipe)
1 egg white
Make it pretty:
Sugar rim, bergamot flowers, a lemon twist, or if you’re feeling fancy you can even add some edible flowers

Earl Grey Martini
So let’s get shaking…
Firstly you will need to infuse your gin. This is a great experiment but does take a few hours.
Grab your gin bottle (750ml) and pour the 4 tbsp of Duke of Earl Grey into it, pop the cap back on and give it a really good shake. Then gab a book, make yourself a cuppa, and sit down to let your gin sit for at least two hours.
After it’s infused strain, your gin through a very small sieve or use a coffee filter in to a jug. Clean out your gin bottle and make sure you get all the loose leaf tea out, then pour your infused gin back in. This gin can be stored in the fridge where it will last forever (if you don’t drink it all at once).
Now you’ve got your gin, you can move on to shaking that cocktail!
- Pop your glass in the freezer to chill (this can be don in advance). You want to rub a rim of sugar around the top and set it to one side.
- Pour all the ingredients into our cocktail shaker and give it a really good shake without the ice
- Then add the ice and shake again
- Strain it into your chilled glass
- Then it’s time to garnish with whatever garnish makes you feel the fanciest!
Finally, kick back and relax. Bond would be proud!