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Creamy Dirty Chai Martini topped with a cinnamon stick outside with snow falling around it

When it’s cold outside, all I want to do is settle in with a cozy Dirty Chai Martini. I love to set a fire (on my tv), cuddle up on the couch and enjoy this drink as the snow falls. It makes the perfect snow day beverage – one sip and it’ll have you feeling warm and toasty.

If you’re looking for a drink of the same ilk as the espresso martini, this one’s for you. The aromatic chai spices mixed with sweet coffee flavor, vanilla and milk are to die for. It’s basically an iced dirty chai latte in cocktail form. I love it because it’s delightful and has a lot less caffeine than an espresso martini, which can keep me up all night if I drink one too late.

This drink is also super simple to mix up, especially if you have chai syrup or concentrate on hand. If not, you can easily make some, I have included a simple recipe below! You can also check out this tutorial video for how to easily put together this chic martini.

Dirty Chai Martini in a glass garnished with cinnamon sugar

Everything You’ll Need to Make a Dirty Chai Martini

Here’s the ingredients you’ll need to make this cozy cocktail.

Vanilla Vodka: Vanilla vodka is essential for the flavor of this drink, preferably 80-proof. My favorite is OYO Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka from Middle West Spirits, a local Columbus, Ohio distillery, but any brand like Absolut or Smirnoff would well.
Chai Syrup: I love to make my own chai simple syrup by steeping a few chai tea bags, then boiling the tea with honey, vanilla extract and cinnamon sticks. It is super easy to make on your own (and will make your house smell divine), however any chai concentrate from the grocery store works great too. I especially love the spiced chai black tea concentrate from Trader Joe’s.
Coffee Liqueur: Of course, the coffee flavor is what makes this chai martini “dirty”! Instead of adding actual espresso or coffee, I like to opt for coffee liqueur. Kahlua is of course my favorite, but you can use any brand.
Milk: Adding milk to this martini makes it nice and creamy. I am a huge fan of whole milk! It is the most creamy and also makes for the best foam once you shake your martini. You can add whichever kind of milk that you prefer or skip this step completely.
Cinnamon Sugar: I like to prep my martini glass by rubbing the edge in a little cinnamon sugar. It’s a nice aesthetic touch that also makes every sip extra cinnamon-y and delicious.
Cinnamon Stick: Finally, I always top this cozy martini with a cinnamon stick. While not a necessary step, I just love the look of it!

How to Make a Dirty Chai Martini

Prep Your Glass: Run water around the rim of the martini glass, then rub the edge of the glass in a bowl of cinnamon sugar. If you really want to go above and beyond you can also add ice to your glass while you mix up the cocktail or stick it in the fridge for a few minutes to get it nice and chilled before you pour your martini.
Shake: Add ice, vanilla vodka, chai syrup, coffee liqueur and milk to a cocktail shaker. Cover and shake for 30 seconds.
Strain, Garnish & Serve: Strain the martini into your prepared glass, then garnish with your cinnamon stick and serve!

Dirty Chai Martini with snow falling around it

Serving A Crowd

If you’re planning to serve this martini to multiple people, I would recommend prepping your glasses and garnish ahead of time! These drinks are best served on the spot to keep that nice foam at the top of your chilled martini. To be as efficient as possible, I would recommend mixing them two at a time in your shaker.

Cocktail Tools

I found my gold cocktail shaker at World Market – they have lots of chic options. I also have a gold bar tools set similar to this one from Target, which includes a jigger and strainer. Check out my full collection of recommended bar tools and glasses.

Creamy Dirty Chai Martini topped with a cinnamon stick

I hope you enjoy sipping on this sweet martini while watching the snow gently fall. If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment or give it a rating to let me know how you liked it! If you're looking for more martini recipes, check out my super sweet Baileys Chocolate Espresso Martini.