A Simple Favor Martini Recipe and Ingredients
The A Simple Favor martini is a vodka-based cocktail that gained attention after the 2018 film of the same name. The standard recipe combines 2 oz vodka, 1 oz dry vermouth, and 0.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled coupe glass. A lemon twist or edible flower is used as a garnish. The drink is classified as a modern classic with a floral profile and an ABV typically around 15% to 20%, depending on the vodka proof. The film's prop team used a specific brand to match the luxury aesthetic, which influenced consumer searches for the exact recipe.
Bartenders at high-end cocktail bars in New York, Los Angeles, and London have added variations that include a splash of soda or a salted rim. The International Bartenders Association lists similar vodka martini templates in its official drink database. The cocktail is often compared to the classic dry martini but is distinguished by the addition of St-Germain, which adds a sweet, floral note. Publicly available cocktail guides from major spirits publishers list the A Simple Favor martini as a trending order in 2024 craft cocktail menus.
Price, Brand Costs, and Consumer Spending
The cost to make an A Simple Favor martini at home depends on the brands selected. Standard vodka such as Tito's or Smirnoff costs roughly 25 to 35 dollars per 750 ml bottle, while St-Germain typically retails for 22 to 28 dollars per 750 ml bottle. Dry vermouth such as Noilly Prat or Dolin costs 12 to 18 dollars per bottle. A single cocktail therefore costs approximately 4 to 7 dollars in ingredients. In U.S. cocktail bars, the same drink is typically priced between 16 and 24 dollars as of 2024, according to menu data from major review platforms.
Premium vodka brands such as Grey Goose or Belvedere raise the per-drink cost to 10 to 14 dollars in ingredients. The A Simple Favor martini appears on cocktail menus at venues like The Dead Rabbit in New York and The Aviary in Chicago, where prices range from 19 to 26 dollars. The cocktail's popularity correlates with increased sales of St-Germain, which reported steady growth in the U.S. premium liqueur segment. Industry reports from spirits market analysts show elderflower liqueurs as a growing category in on-premise beverage sales.
Cultural Impact, Film Context, and Market Trends
The 2018 film A Simple Favor, directed by Paul Feig and starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, featured the martini as a recurring visual motif. The film's box office gross exceeded 97 million dollars worldwide, according to public box office tracking data. The drink's association with the film's luxury aesthetic drove a measurable increase in searches for the recipe on major search engines and cocktail sites. The film's marketing materials highlighted the cocktail as a symbol of sophistication and intrigue, which influenced bar menus in major U.S. cities.
The A Simple Favor martini is part of a broader trend toward named cocktails inspired by films and television. Spirits companies such as Pernod Ricard, which owns St-Germain, have used film partnerships to promote cocktail culture. The U.S. craft cocktail market was valued at over 18 billion dollars in 2023, with premium ready-to-drink and bar-focused cocktails driving growth. The A Simple Favor martini remains a frequently ordered cocktail in 2024, particularly among consumers seeking floral and approachable flavor profiles. The drink's recipe and cultural footprint are documented in cocktail databases and spirits industry reports available online.