Hey there! Today, we’re stepping into a time machine and setting the dials to the 19th century. Our destination? The birth of the Martinez, a cocktail that’s more vintage than your grandma’s pearls… And obviously way more delicious.
I love this gin cocktail and am excited to share it with you. Hands-down the coolest thing about my job is that I get to decide which cocktails Chris makes for you. So of course I have to throw in all my favorites!
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The Mysterious Origins of the Martinez Cocktail
This classic cocktail is like your family’s secret chili recipe: Everyone’s got a different version, and nobody’s quite sure where it came from. Some say it was first stirred up in San Francisco for a miner on his way to Martinez, California. Others argue it hails directly from the city of Martinez itself.
And then there are those who believe it was the brainchild of the legendary bartender Jerry Thomas, who shared the now-classic drink in his cocktail book, The Bar-Tender’s Guide, in the 1887. The truth? Lost in time, my friends. Lost in time.
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Martinez Ingredients
This classic cocktail recipe is kind of like a gin version of a Manhattan, and making it requires quality ingredients and a good balance between them. It lives in the spirit-forward cocktail category (more on that here) and is sometimes referred to as a Martinez Martini.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this amazing drink:
- Gin: While it doesn’t have to be top shelf, choose a solid gin as the foundation of this semi-sweet drink, something that brings a botanical & floral element.
- Sweet Vermouth: This fortified wine is what weighs out the gin and brings a little bittersweet flavor to this vintage cocktail. This is not the time to be shy; pick a good one!
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- Maraschino Liqueur: Just a bar spoon of this liqueur works with the vermouth to add a round touch of sweetness and slight black pepper flavor.
- Angostura or Orange Bitters: A couple of dashes of classic orange bitters (or Angostura like we’re using) adds some much-needed zing.
- Orange Twist or Cocktail Cherry: For garnish, because we’re fancy like that.
Variations
- Change Your Gin: Change up your style of gin. We’re using a London Dry gin for a crisper taste, but you could try something less juniper-forward. Different gins have such varying flavors, from more floral to lots of cucumber; experiment and see which type of gin you prefer with the other ingredients. And if you want to make your own gin and control the flavors, check out this article.
- Switch Out the Base Spirit: Not feeling the botanical style of gin at all? Swap out the gin for whisky, tequila, or rum. Check out our custom recipe below, which plays with the smoky flavor of mezcal. And if you use whiskey, you’re essentially making a Manhattan.
- Vary the Vermouth: Play around with different brands or even try a dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth for a less sweet drink. Of course, this will totally change the drink, but hey… You never know unless you try.
- Bitters Make it Better: Beyond orange or Angostura, consider experimenting with different kinds of bitters for new flavor profiles, including other aromatic bitters, rhubarb (my personal favorite, from Fees Brothers), or even chocolate.
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Our Version of the Martinez with Mezcal
OK, Rob & Chris have outdone themselves with a fabulous cocktail. Like, truly amazing. I actually took home all the ingredients from our work bar and made it at home for my husband because it’s now one of my favorite drinks and warranted sharing.
That said, this is not a cheap cocktail. We feel the need to give fair warning that the ingredients we used for this one are top shelf and quite spendy. However, you could make your own by using different brands of mezcal & amaro so as to cut costs. It won’t be exactly the same, but it should still be darn good as long as you use decent booze.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 3/4 ounces Mezcal Tobala
- 1/2 ounce Amaro Lucano Anniversario
- 1/2 ounce Licor 43
- 1/4 ounce Absinthe
- 4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice, and give a good stir to chill & dilute properly for about 20 secs.
2. Strain into a Nick and Nora glass or coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Martinez: One of the Greatest American Cocktails
The Martinez is more than just a cocktail; it’s a little bit of history in a glass. Like I’ve said, it’s definitely one of my absolute favorite drinks, and it’s totally a must-try, whether you’re a seasoned cocktail connoisseur or a curious newbie to the world of craft cocktails.
After you mix this one, leave me a comment and let me know what you think. And until next time, just keep stirring!
The Martinez Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 ounce London Dry Gin
- 3/4 ounce Sweet Vermouth
- 1 barspoon Maraschino Liqueur
- 2 dashes Orange Bitters
Instructions
- Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass with ice.
- Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with an orange twist.
I gathered from reading Gary Regan, David Wondrich and Dale DeGroff that the Martinez was the intermediary between the Manhattan and the martini.
I wonder which maraschino liqueur you would have preferred had you used an Old Tom gin rather than a London dry? Or if you’d used Boker’s or Angostura bitters instead of the orange.
I wish I could try all of those variations, but all Bols products have disappeared from the shelves of my favorite liquor store.
Have you tried the Bols maraschino in an Aviation cocktail, yet?
I’m with you – there are a lot of variations I’d like to try, and I’m sure we will over time. I think the Aviation would definitely be another good test!