Magical Butterfly Earl Grey Marteani

This Earl Grey marteani is unlike any other you’ve likely come across. I do fancy myself a more traditional way of making this drink, but this time I decided it’s time to play around a bit and have some fun—creating a whole new way to drink a mar-tea-ni!
First off, we’re infusing the liquor with our Magical Butterfly herbal tea, then creating a simple syrup from our Gratitude Blend Earl Grey. Add in some cranberry juice, shake or stir, pour, and bam!

Choosing Your Liquor

There are choices when it comes to choosing your liquor in this earl grey marteani. I debated gin, but for me, and many I know, it’s not their jam.
So, I decided to try out a couple of other options to blend in, instead. Not a big alcoholic drinker? Not sure which to choose? I always encourage trying things to see what works for you, but in case you’d rather not, here’s a little breakdown describing the differences between vodka and rum.
First off, vodka: a popular liquor choice for many mixed drinks. The likability of vodka stems from its neutral flavor. Grains, coming from wheat, rice, or corn are the usual choice, and sometimes grapes or sugars. Vodka is a clear choice for many people as it’s low in calories and it doesn’t have a strong taste.
Rum: when I think of rum I think of paradise. The beach, sun, waves, sand on my feet…yes!
Rum is made from molasses or sugarcane, which gives it the caramel hue it’s known for. What I love about rum, is depending on the final steps in its creation, it can take on some unique flavors. Fruit or even bourbon or scotch hints if being aged in an old barrel from another liquor are common undertones you will find.
Choosing a Caribbean rum for this recipe provided me that little bit of fruity flavor I was looking for to compliment the flavors in both our teas.

What to Pair

With this recipe, I decided to go with cranberry juice, to minimize sweetness and keep this earl grey marteani on the stronger side—as is with most martinis. I really enjoy the slight acidity in this juice. It doesn’t overtake the other flavors within the drink, either. Another fun option I think would be carbonated water, like Perrier, with a splash of cranberry juice.
If the Magical Butterfly herbal tea doesn’t seem like quite the right fit for you, I’d recommend our Rejuvenation Blend herbal tea. This intoxicating blend incorporates some spicy ginger root and crisp lemon peel to give you a little zing.
The best part?
You can choose how long you’d like to infuse your liquor in the tea—whatever pleases you! In this recipe, I chose to let my alcohol infuse for 12 hours, which I was quite pleased with. I love the color as well! If you’d prefer something a little less intense, infuse yours for two to four hours, or for those who want a more pronounced flavor profile, 24 hours at most.