Martinez


A lush gin–vermouth ancestor of the Martini with cherry and spice depth.


Base spirit
Gin
Style
Spirit-forward
Glassware
Coupe

The Martinez is a classic gin and sweet‚Äëvermouth cocktail defined by maraschino liqueur and aromatic bitters. Stirred with ice, it drinks round and herbal with warm spice from the vermouth and a subtle cherry‚Äëalmond undertone. Old Tom gin provides gentle sweetness, while London dry yields a drier structure. Its earliest appearances come from late nineteenth‚Äëcentury manuals such as O.H. Byron and later the 1887 Jerry Thomas edition, marking it as a proto‚ÄëMartini that bridged gin punches and the dry Martini.


A coupe of Martinez with a rich amber tone and an expressed orange twist.

Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 oz Old Tom gin
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth
  • 0.25 oz maraschino
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Orange twist

Did you know?

The Martinez appears in O.H. Byron’s 1884 manual and in the 1887 Thomas edition, which Wondrich cites as foundational to Martini evolution.

Source:Savoy; Wondrich Imbibe!

Bartender's Note

Old Tom gin creates a historically faithful balance.

How to make the Martinez

  1. 1Add ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
  2. 2Stir until chilled.
  3. 3Strain into a coupe.
  4. 4Express an orange twist.

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