The Martinez cocktail is a classic cocktail that predates the Martini and is considered to be the predecessor to the Martini. It is made with gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters. It is typically garnished with a lemon twist or a cherry. The drink is typically served in a cocktail glass and is usually stirred or shaken before being strained into the glass. The origins of the Martinez cocktail are unclear, but it is believed to have been first served in the late 1800s in the town of Martinez, California.
Here is a recipe for making a Martinez cocktail:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1/4 oz maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- Lemon twist or cherry for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a mixing glass with ice.
- Add the gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters to the glass.
- Stir the ingredients until well chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.
- Enjoy your classic Martinez Cocktail!
Note: You can adjust the ingredients to your liking, for example, if you want it sweeter, you can add more maraschino liqueur or if you want it less sweet, you can add less of it, or you can use dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth.
Martinez Variations
There are several variations of the Martinez cocktail that have been developed over time. Some variations include:
- The Gibson Martinez: This variation replaces the lemon twist or cherry garnish with a pickled onion.
- The Dry Martinez: This variation replaces the sweet vermouth with dry vermouth, making the drink less sweet.
- The Perfect Martinez: This variation adds equal parts sweet and dry vermouth to the recipe, giving the drink a more balanced sweetness.
- The Old Tom Martinez: This variation uses Old Tom Gin instead of London Dry Gin, which gives the drink a sweeter and more complex flavor profile.
- The Martinez Flip: This variation adds an egg white to the recipe, which gives the drink a creamy texture and richer mouthfeel.
- The Martinez with Aperol: This variation adds Aperol in equal parts with sweet vermouth for a more bitter and fruity taste.
These are some popular variations, but you can always get creative and make your own variations using different ingredients and proportions that you prefer.
When making a Martinez cocktail, it’s important to choose a gin that complements the flavors of the other ingredients. Here are a few gin brands that are considered to be particularly well-suited for a Martinez:
- Tanqueray: This London Dry gin has a strong juniper flavor and a clean finish, making it a great choice for a Martinez.
- Beefeater: Another London Dry gin, Beefeater has a robust juniper flavor and a slight citrus note, which pairs well with the sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur in a Martinez.
- Hayman’s Old Tom: This gin style is sweeter and more complex than London Dry gin, which makes it a great choice for a Martinez. Old Tom gin is becoming increasingly popular and more widely available.
- Plymouth: This gin has a unique blend of botanicals that gives it a slightly sweeter, more rounded flavor than other London Dry gins. This can make it a good choice for a Martinez.
- Ransom Old Tom: This gin is a modern interpretation of the classic Old Tom gin style, it’s made using traditional methods and has a rich, sweet flavor that works well in a Martinez.
It’s worth noting that gin is a matter of personal taste, so you should experiment with different gins to find the one that you think works best in a Martinez.
