Make an April Rain Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 04/14/23
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins

Bright, refreshing, and just slightly dry, the April rain is a wonderful cocktail that's sure to put you in a spring mood. It's a simple variation on the vodka martini that gives the popular cocktail a lime twist.

What is nice about this recipe is that it has a drier profile than other lime-flavored martinis. The only sweetness comes from the lime juice, which simultaneously adds a little sour to the drink. It's quite uplifting and a nice change from the sweet, fruity vodka martinis that are so popular.

You'll find that the April rain makes an excellent dinner cocktail. Enjoy one before the meal as an aperitif or with dinner as its a delightful palate cleanser for any type of food, even spicy dishes.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, pour the vodka, lime juice, and vermouth.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Garnish with a lime peel.

  6. Serve and enjoy!

    Tips

    • With just three ingredients that are all rather transparent, the April rain will be best when each is carefully selected and high quality.
    • Begin with a top-shelf vodka that is nice and smooth. One that you enjoy straight is a perfect choice.
    • For the vermouth, be sure that it's fresh because the fortified wine will lose its flavor and begin to taste stale if the bottle is open much longer than a couple of months. It's also best to store open bottles in the refrigerator. When in doubt, replace your vermouth with a new bottle.
    • Fresh lime juice is almost essential in the April rain! You will have a much better tasting cocktail if you avoid bottled juices. The average lime yields about 1 ounce of juice, so you can even simply squeeze half a lime into the shaker.
    • Serving your April rain in a chilled cocktail glass will complete the drink's wonderful experience. If you don't have one pre-chilled, place a few ice cubes in the glass while you shake up the drink, then dump them prior to straining.

    Recipe Variations

    • Retain the dry profile, but give this cocktail a little sparkle by adding a splash of tonic water.
    • You can even transform it into a taller drink that's just as refreshing by serving it over ice in a collins glass, then topping it with tonic. That variation should last an entire meal.
    • Make this drink with gin if you like. It will be like a gimlet with a vermouth twist and an excellent alternative.

    How Strong Is an April Rain Cocktail?

    The April rain is one of those deceptive martini cocktails; it looks stunning but is rather strong at the same time. When made with an 80-proof vodka, you can expect its alcohol content to fall somewhere around 25 percent ABV (50 proof). That's normal for cocktails of this style and similar to the cosmopolitan.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
199 Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories 199
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Protein 2g
Calcium 27mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)