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Martinez

Martinez

ClassicIBA Official

The Martini's sweeter ancestor.

Before DinnerRichSpirit-ForwardClassic
3 minEasyStrong

Lush and aromatic. Old Tom's soft sweetness and sweet vermouth's baking spice sit over a juniper backbone, with maraschino lending a nutty, cherry-almond depth.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Old Tom Gin
  • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • 0.5 oz Maraschino Liqueur
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Lemon twist · optional garnish

Method

  1. 1

    Add the Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.

  2. 2

    Stir until well-chilled, about 20-30 seconds.

  3. 3

    Strain into a chilled coupe.

  4. 4

    Express a lemon twist over the surface and drop it in.

The Story

Widely considered the bridge between the Manhattan and the Martini, the Martinez surfaced in the 1880s — named, perhaps, for the California town of Martinez or a bartender's regular. It pairs slightly sweet Old Tom gin with sweet vermouth and a whisper of maraschino, making it richer and rounder than the bone-dry Martini it would go on to inspire.

Glass · Coupe glassGarnish · Lemon twist

Recipe card

The whole recipe in one shareable image.

Martinez recipe infographic