If a Bloody Mary and a Greek salad had a baby—with a gin-loving godparent—it would be this Greek Salad Cocktail.
Welcome to the zesty, briny, wildly unexpected world of the Greek Salad Cocktail, also known as the Mediterranean Gimlet, made famous by Nikos Bakoulis and the team at The Clumsies in Athens, one of the best bars in the world.
This is no average martini. It’s a whole Mediterranean mezze moment—served in a coupe glass.
What Is a Greek Salad Cocktail?
The Greek Salad Cocktail is exactly what it sounds like: a Greek salad… in a glass.
But don’t worry, this isn’t a salad bar accident. It’s a perfectly balanced, slightly savory cocktail that takes all the Greek food flavors you love—feta cheese, kalamata olives, cucumber, tomato —and gives them a gin-spiked Greek twist.
It’s bright, it’s briny, slightly sweet and it’s the perfect sipper for hot summer days when you want something a little different and a lot refreshing.
We love making a batch to have on hand in the refrigerator. It’s an upscale cocktail bar drink that’s easy to have on hand at home once it is batched.
Want to really wow your friends? You’re officially the mixologist of the Mediterranean.
Where Did the Mediterranean Gimlet Originate?
As traveling foodies, we often seek out the bars that routinely make the World’s 50 Best Bars list.
In fact, we’ve been to over a dozen on the list, spanning from Paris, Barcelona, New York, Mexico City, Tulum, Sydney, Tokyo, and also Greece.
After our Windstar James Beard Culinary Yacht Cruise through Greece, Croatia, and Montenegro, we ended up in the port of Athens for the night and searched for the best nightcaps around town.
The Mediterranean Gimlet cocktail debuted at The Clumsies, located in the heart of Athens. The bar has become a global darling for pushing boundaries and infusing drinks with Greek elements.
The mastermind behind this cocktail is Nikos Bakoulis, who helped dream up a drink that would highlight Mediterranean flavors in a totally new way.
A far cry from your usual lime-and-sugar gimlet, this one celebrates the region’s produce—and its passion for different tastes.
Fun fact: this cocktail even made an appearance at the World Finals of bartending competitions. Yes, it’s that fancy.
Tips for Making a Greek Salad Martini
- Don’t skip the straining. You want a smooth cordial, not a veggie smoothie. Use a cheesecloth with a Chemex pour-over pitcher with a strainer for the cleanest result. The more you strain it without applying pressure, the clearer the cocktail will become. We ran it through once and it was a light pink color. A second strain would have made it even clearer (if you have the patience)!
- Garnish matters. A skewer of Greek salad favorites like feta, kalamata olives, cucumber gives you the full Greek taverna vibe.
- A few drops of olive oil on top? That’s not a mistake—it’s the signature finish.
- Want to show off? This recipe is total TikTok-make bait. It’s a “Wait, you drank a salad?!” kind of moment.
Greek Salad Cocktail Recipe: Clumsies Copycat
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Additional Time: 1 Hour
Serves: 1 Liter of batched cocktail
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe tomatoes
- ½ to ¾ of a large cucumber
- 2 small green bell peppers
- ¼ cup kalamata olive brine
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 ¼ cup gin
- 6 drops olive oil, for garnish
- Skewer of feta cheese, kalamata olives, and cucumber, for garnish
Directions:
- Chop your vegetables and toss them into a blender—tomatoes, cucumber, and green bell peppers.
- In a small bowl or saucepan, create a simple syrup by heating the water and sugar together until fully dissolved. Let it cool.
- Strain the blended veggies through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Pro tip: a Chemex coffee pitcher works wonders here.
- Pour the strained liquid into an airtight container or bottle.
- Add in the cooled simple syrup, the olive brine, and the gin. Shake it up gently.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week.
- To serve, pour into a chilled martini or coupe glass. Top with olive oil drops and garnish with your skewer of Greek salad delights.
NOTE: To adjust the sweetness, add more or less of the simple syrup.
Greek Salad Cocktail Recipe: Clumsies Copycat
If you're looking for a close copycat to the Mediterranean Gimlet from top bar in the world "The Clumsies", you have to try our Greek Salad Cocktail recipe!
Ingredients
- 3 ripe tomatoes
- ½ to ¾ of a large cucumber
- 2 small green bell peppers
- ¼ cup kalamata olive brine
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 ¼ cup gin
- 6 drops olive oil, for garnish
- Skewer of feta cheese, kalamata olives, and cucumber, for garnish
Instructions
- Chop your vegetables and toss them into a blender—tomatoes, cucumber, and green bell peppers.
- In a small bowl or saucepan, create a simple syrup by heating the water and sugar together until fully dissolved. Let it cool.
- Strain the blended veggies through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Pro tip: a Chemex coffee pitcher works wonders here.
- Pour the strained liquid into an airtight container or bottle.
- Add in the cooled simple syrup, the olive brine, and the gin. Shake it up gently.
- Store in the fridge for up to a week.
- To serve, pour into a chilled martini or coupe glass. Top with olive oil drops and garnish with your skewer of Greek salad delights.
Notes
NOTE: To adjust the sweetness, add more or less of the simple syrup.
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Whether you’re a cocktail nerd, a Greek food lover, or just someone who appreciates a drink that feels like a whole side dish, this Greek Salad Martini is sure to impress.
Now go forth, chill that glass, and toast to something beautifully bizarre—opa!
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