This Red Bell Pepper Cocktail is a refreshing gin-based drink made with homemade red pepper simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and optional red chili flakes for a subtle kick. Sweet, slightly savory, and citrusy, it's a unique summer cocktail that's naturally gluten-free and easy to shake up at home.
A variation on the pre-prohibition era gin sour, this beautiful red martini is one of my favorite cocktails to make. The easy red pepper simple sugar syrup makes enough for multiple cocktails.
If you are a gin lover, this is a good drink to add to your happy hour rotation.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Simple ingredients
- Homemade simple syrup
- Classic cocktail with a twist
Ingredients and substitutions
Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients in this recipe. You can see a complete list of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.
Red bell pepper - Fresh red pepper is infused into our simple syrup. Red bell pepper brings natural sweetness and a subtle vegetal complexity that pairs beautifully with lemon and gin. For a twist, you can substitute with orange bell pepper for a similar sweetness or roasted red pepper for a smokier depth. Avoid green peppers, which can taste too bitter in cocktails.
Gin - Dry gin balances the flavors of the sweet and slightly spicy simple syrup quite well. London Dry Gin is recommended and easy to find at your local liquor store. Play around with the kind of good gin you enjoy and what best suit your personal taste.
Don't have gin? Vodka is a good substitute, although the flavor won't be as well-rounded.
Lemon juice - Fresh lemon juice brightens the cocktail and balances the sweetness of the syrup. It’s essential for creating that crisp, citrusy contrast. Always use fresh juice for the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice will dull the drink’s brightness.
Organic cane sugar - I like to use organic since it is processed in a cleaner way and is vegan-friendly. Used to make the red pepper simple syrup, it provides a clean, neutral sweetness that highlights the flavor of the pepper. You can substitute with coconut sugar for a caramel-like depth. Substitute agave nectar or honey for a sweet, neutral replacement.
Red pepper chili flakes - These add a gentle heat to the syrup that plays well with the sweet and citrus notes in the cocktail. Use sparingly to avoid overwhelming the drink. If you’re sensitive to spice, simply leave them out. You could also substitute red chili flakes with a thin slice of fresh chili (like jalapeño) during the syrup steeping process for a cleaner heat.
Step-by-step instructions for red pepper bell cocktail
Before you start: Prep your syrup with time ahead to let it cool.
Step 1: In a small saucepan, combine the water, organic cane sugar, sliced pepper, and chili flakes. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Step 2: Once cool, strain the simple syrup into a bottle or airtight container. In a cocktail shaker, fill with lots of ice, add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake well. Strain and pour into a coupe or martini glass. Serve with a garnish of sliced pepper, lemon slice, or fresh lemon twist, if desired.
Equipment
Cocktail shaker - A simple shaker works best for this cocktail recipe. If you don't have a shaker, the drink can be stirred in a mixing glass with ice and then strained with a fine mesh sieve.
Jigger - Use this to measure the gin, lemon juice, and syrup. Don't have a jigger? That's okay. Use a one-cup liquid measuring cup with ounces marked instead.
Coupe glass - Serve these easy gin cocktails in a coupe glass or martini glass. Any stemmed chilled cocktail glass will do.
FAQs
You can serve this gin cocktail straight up.
This gin martini is served in a coupe glass, but a martini glass can also be used.
Tanqueray, Beefeater, Hayman's, and Bombay Sapphire are all considered London Dry Gins.
Red bell pepper adds a naturally sweet, earthy flavor and a subtle vegetal complexity that pairs beautifully with citrus and botanicals in gin. It gives the cocktail a unique, slightly savory depth without overpowering it. If you’d like to substitute it, try using orange bell pepper for a similar sweetness, or roasted red pepper for a deeper, smokier flavor. Avoid green bell peppers as they tend to be too bitter and grassy for cocktails.
Want more summer drink inspiration? This grapefruit juice hibiscus cocktail is a light and fruity vodka sipper.
And these pineapple jalapeño margaritas from Vanilla and Bean have just the right balance of sweetness and spice!
Plus, gin drink recipes like this blackberry cocktail and mint gimlet don't disappoint either.
More great cocktails
Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!
📖 Recipe
Red Bell Pepper Cocktail
Ingredients
Simple Syrup
- 1 red bell pepper deseeded and sliced
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- ¼ teaspoon chili pepper flakes
Cocktail
- 1 ½ ounces gin London Dry Gin recommended
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce red bell pepper simple syrup
Instructions
Make the Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine the water, organic cane sugar, sliced red bell pepper, and chili pepper flakes. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
- Once cool, strain the simple syrup into a bottle or airtight container and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Cocktail
- In a cocktail shaker, fill with ice, add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake well. Strain and pour into a cocktail glass. Serve with a garnish of bell pepper, if desired.
Brynne
A fun, fresh idea!
Tessa
Thanks! Inspired by my favorite local Kansas City cocktail.