Martinez

Name: Martinez
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 45 ml / 1.5 oz Old Tom Gin; 45 ml / 1.5 oz Sweet Vermouth; 1 bar spoon (approx. 5 ml / 0.17 oz) Maraschino Liqueur; 2 dashes Orange Bitters

Ingredients Instructions

The Martinez is a beautifully complex and historic cocktail that bridges the gap between the Manhattan and the Dry Martini. It features Old Tom gin, a slightly sweeter style of gin, which pairs perfectly with sweet vermouth. The addition of maraschino liqueur and bitters adds layers of depth, creating a sophisticated and aromatic drink that is rich, yet balanced, and perfect for sipping.

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time

Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Martinez is a classic cocktail, firmly rooted in the history of mixology. It is considered an "all-day" cocktail but is often enjoyed as an aperitif before a meal, meant to stimulate the appetite.

Serving

The Martinez is a spirit-forward drink served cold and "up" (without ice) in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. It has a significant alcohol content, making it a classic sipping cocktail.

Serving size

Approximately 90 ml / 3 oz

Alcohol content

Approximately 28-32% ABV

Alcohol strength

Serving temperature

Cold

Glass type

Coupe

Glass treatment

Chilled

Backstory

The most popular origin story places the drink's creation in the 1870s in Martinez, California. A gold miner, on his way to San Francisco, stopped at a local bar and asked for a special drink to celebrate his newfound fortune. The bartender, possibly named Julio Richelieu, mixed what he had on hand, creating the first Martinez and naming it after the town.

Origin

The Martinez is believed to have originated in Martinez, California, USA, during the 1860s or 1870s, with its first printed recipe appearing in O.H. Byron's "The Modern Bartender's Guide" in 1884.

Martinez

The drink is primarily known as the Martinez or The Martinez Cocktail. It is sometimes affectionately referred to as the "Martini's Father" or "Martini's Grandfather" due to its historical position as a direct precursor to the modern Dry Martini.

Original name

Martinez

Alternative names

The Martinez Cocktail
Martini's Father

Characteristics overview

The Martinez offers a complex, herbal, and subtly sweet flavor profile with a silky texture and a warming, long aftertaste. Its deep amber hue and botanical aroma make it a sophisticated, year-round sipping cocktail.

Flavor

Complex, herbal, subtly sweet, juniper, cherry, orange

Aroma

Botanical, aromatic, citrus, sweet herbs

Taste balance

Sweet, bitter, spirituous

Aftertaste

Warming, long, complex, herbal

Fizziness

Still, non-carbonated

Color appearance

Clear, deep amber, reddish-brown

Texture

Silky, smooth, slightly viscous

Seasonality

Year-round, warming, classic

Flavor intensity & Experience

The drink is defined by its high alcohol strength, balanced by a gentle sweetness and bitterness. It has noticeable fruity and herbal notes with no sourness, saltiness, or creaminess.

Sweetness

Saltiness

Sourness

Bitterness

Spiciness

Fruitiness

Creaminess

Carbonation

Ingredients

This classic cocktail requires four key liquid ingredients: Old Tom Gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters. A high-quality version of each is recommended for the best flavor.

Old Tom Gin45 ml / 1.5 oz
A slightly sweeter style of gin, essential for the classic Martinez profile. A London Dry can be substituted for a drier version.
Sweet Vermouth45 ml / 1.5 oz
Use a high-quality Italian-style sweet vermouth for best results.
Maraschino Liqueur1 bar spoon (approx. 5 ml / 0.17 oz)
A clear, dry liqueur made from Marasca cherries, adding complexity and a hint of sweetness.
Orange Bitters2 dashes
Angostura bitters can also be used for a slightly spicier profile.

Ice type

Cubed ice for chilling

Mixing equipments

You will need a mixing glass and a bar spoon to properly stir and chill the drink. A jigger for accurate measurements and a strainer are also essential.

Mixing glass for stirring the ingredients with ice
Bar spoon for stirring
Jigger for measuring ingredients
Strainer (Julep or Hawthorne) for pouring into the glass

Instructions

The process involves combining all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, stirring until chilled, and then straining into a chilled coupe. The final touch is garnishing with an expressed lemon twist.

1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before preparation.

2. Add Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters to a mixing glass.

3. Fill the mixing glass with cubed ice.

4. Stir with a bar spoon for 20-30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted.

5. Strain the mixture into your pre-chilled coupe glass.

6. Take a fresh lemon peel, twist it over the surface of the drink to express its oils, and then drop it into the glass as a garnish.

7. Serve immediately.

Garnishing

A simple yet elegant lemon twist is the classic garnish for a Martinez. Expressing the citrus oils over the surface of the drink adds a bright, aromatic dimension.

Lemon Twist: Express the oils from a lemon peel over the drink and drop it in.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is typically vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free, but check vermouth and liqueur labels for specific allergens. Maraschino liqueur can occasionally be derived from nuts, so caution is advised for those with nut allergies.

✓ Contains alcohol

✓ Caffeine-free

✓ Dairy-free

✓ Egg-free

✓ Soy-free

✕ Nut-free

✓ Gluten-free

✓ Vegan-friendly

✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

A single serving of a Martinez contains a moderate amount of calories, primarily from the alcohol. The carbohydrate and sugar content comes almost entirely from the sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur.

Calories

Averagely 190-220 kcal / 795-920 kJ

Calories level

Carbohydrates

Averagely 8-10 g

Carbohydrate level

Sugar

Averagely 8-10 g

Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is ideal for sophisticated occasions, such as a cocktail party or a pre-dinner aperitif. Its historical significance also makes it a perfect choice for a themed tasting event exploring the evolution of cocktails.

Pre-dinner drink
Cocktail party
Sophisticated gathering
Historical cocktail tasting

Pairing suggestions

The Martinez pairs well with savory and salty appetizers that can stand up to its complex, spirit-forward profile. Consider offering it with a selection of charcuterie, hard cheeses, or flavorful marinated olives to complement the drink's herbal and sweet notes.

Marinated olives
Hard cheeses like Parmesan or aged cheddar
Charcuterie boards
Smoked almonds

The Martinez: A Taste of Cocktail History

The Martinez is a cornerstone of cocktail history, representing a key evolutionary step towards the modern Martini. It offers a more approachable and slightly sweeter profile than its famous descendant, thanks to the use of Old Tom gin and a generous measure of sweet vermouth. With its rich, complex character derived from maraschino liqueur and bitters, it is a sophisticated and rewarding drink for those who appreciate classic, spirit-driven cocktails. A perfect choice for an aperitif, it is best enjoyed stirred and served ice-cold in a chilled coupe.