Martinez Cocktail: Timeless Gin Classic

You probably aren't familiar with the Martinez unless you're either a cocktail connoisseur or a history buff. But once you try this classic gin drink, you'll surely be a fan. Discover its story and then follow our easy Martinez cocktail recipe and craft one at home in just five minutes.

Martinez CocktailPhoto by2foodtrippers

Our journey into lazy mixology has motivated us to craft a myriad of cocktails that we'd previously imbibed at bars. The Martinez was not one of those cocktails.

To be honest, we had never heard of the drink until our sweet obsession with Luxardo maraschino cherries motivated us to buy a bottle of Luxardo maraschino liqueur. The liqueur's deep flavors piqued our curiosity to find Luxardo-based tipples. It wasn't long until we read about the Martinez - a cocktail that allegedly inspired the Manhattan and has elements reminiscent of Italy's Negroni.

It wasn't much longer until we crafted a Martinez at home in just five minutes, which left us with one question: Why isn't the Martinez cocktail more popular?

What Is the Martinez Cocktail?

Never heard of a Martinez? Don't feel bad. Although the classic drink is as timeless as a Manhattan or Martini, it has flown under the radar for decades if not longer. But what is it?

The Martinez is a sophisticated cocktail heavyweight that features no less that four alcoholic ingredients - gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur and Angostura bitters. It's also a member of the classic cocktail centenarian club along with the Mint Julep, Old Fashioned and Sazerac.

History of the Martinez Cocktail

If you're thinking that the Martinez and the Gin Martini have some similarities, you're not mistaken. Aside from starting with the same six letters, both cocktails feature gin and vermouth.

You might also think that the Martini inspired the Martinez since it's by far the more popular of the two drinks and has achieved cocktail icon status. However, in this regard, you would be wrong.

Research reveals that the Martinez was invented in the late 19th century and predates the Martini by decades. In fact, the Martinez, originally crafted with Old Tom gin, very well may have inspired the Martini's creation. The two Pre-Prohibition gin drinks are that similar.

As often happens with cocktail history, things get fuzzier in terms of who deserves credit for inventing the Martinez. One legend credits the creation to a California bartender named Martinez while another asserts that the name came from its possible birthplace in a Martinez, California.

Ingredients

The Martinez is a serious cocktail as evidenced by the following list of its high-octane ingredients:

• 1½ ounces gin
• 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
• ¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
• 2 dashes angostura bitters
• orange peel (garnish)
• ice cubes (for shaking)

You'll notice that there aren't any mixers in this cocktail. Don't worry. You won't miss mixers once you taste your first sip.

You probably have three of the necessary Martinez liquors - dry gin, sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters - in your bar. We use French gin, Italian vermouth and Angostura Bitters to quickly craft Martinez cocktails at home. However, you can get creative based on the liquor brands that you love and have on hand.

The fourth liquor, maraschino liqueur, is the outlier and a bit more obscure. However, you won't regret buying a bottle since it's also an ingredient in cocktails like the Aviation and Hemingway Daiquiri. At least that's what happened to us after we special-ordered a bottle of Luxardo maraschino liqueur at a local Lisbon liqueur shop.

How to Craft a Martinez Cocktail

The first step in crafting a Martinez is to measure the gin, sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur. We use a Japanese jigger but any jigger will suffice. For example, you could use a small angled measuring cup if you don't have a jigger.

The second step is to pour the four liquors into a mixing glass. Another option is to use the bottom of our Boston Shaker since it's airtight and easy to use.

Text third step is to add two dashes of Angostura bitters.

The fourth step is to add ice and stir with a bar spoon until the liquors are combined and chilled.

The final step is to strain the amber cocktail into a martini glass.

You could also use a coupe glass. Your cocktail will taste great regardless of the type of cocktail glass that you use.

Variations

If you're feeling creative or want to stretch your mixology muscles, try the following Martinez cocktail alternatives:

• Replace the gin with Old Tom gin to recreate the original Martinez recipe.
• Replace the gin with rum to craft a Rum Martinez cocktail.
• Replace the gin with mezcal to craft a Mezcal Martinez cocktail.
• Replace the sweet vermouth with dry vermouth and omit the maraschino liqueur to craft a gin Martini.
• Replace the gin with bourbon and the maraschino liqueur with maraschino cherries to craft a Manhattan.

This recipe was originally published on 2foodtrippers. Consider subscribing to 2foodtrippers if you enjoyed it.