Martinez

The Martinez has a sweet, botanical, fruity, complex, aromatic flavor profile. A sophisticated gin-based cocktail that serves as the elegant predecessor to the modern Martini. This classic combines Old Tom gin with sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters for a complex, aromatic experience.

A Martinez requires 4 ingredients: Old Tom gin, Sweet Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Orange Bitters.

A Martinez takes about 3 minutes to prepare and is considered medium difficulty.

A Martinez is traditionally served in a coupe, garnished with Lemon twist.

Yes, you can make a mocktail version of the Martinez by substituting the spirits with non-alcoholic alternatives such as seedlip, non-alcoholic distilled spirits, or flavored syrups and juices that mimic the original flavor profile.

The Martinez holds the distinguished title of being the Martini's sophisticated grandfather, with origins tracing back to the 1860s-1880s. Most cocktail historians credit Jerry Thomas, the legendary bartender and author of the first bartending manual, with popularizing this drink in his 1887 edition of 'The Bartender's Guide.' The cocktail's name likely derives from the town of Martinez, California, though competing stories suggest it was named after the Martini & Rossi vermouth brand or created for a gold miner heading to Martinez. Unlike today's bone-dry Martinis, the original Martinez was built on Old Tom gin—a sweeter, more botanical style—and featured equal parts gin and sweet vermouth. The addition of maraschino liqueur and orange bitters created a drink of remarkable complexity and elegance. As American tastes evolved toward drier cocktails in the early 20th century, the Martinez gradually transformed into the Martini we know today, but the original recipe has experienced a renaissance among craft cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate its nuanced, sophisticated character.