Martinez Cocktail: the easy recipe of the drink made of gin and vermouth

Martinez cocktail is a famous drink all over the world to enjoy as an after dinner. Made of gin, red vermouth, maraschino liqueur and orange bitter, this historical cocktail is considered the ancestor of the most famous dry Martini and often associated to the Manhattan. The origins of the drink are still uncertain. It is believed the Martinez cocktail was invented by the Californian bartender Julio Richelieu, who would have prepared it in 1870 in a bar in Martinez — a small town in California — in order to serve it to a miner. Others think that the cocktail was created by Jerry Thomas, one of the most famous bartender of history, to whom is attributed the original recipe made around 1887.

The Martinez is a balanced drink thanks to the aromatic flavor of herbs and juniper and to the sweetness of maraschino. It doesn't exist just one recipe for the Martinez, which may be the reason why it was never included in any IBA cocktail edition. So, let's find out how to make the Martinez cocktail step by step.

How to make Martinez Cocktail

Ice the small cup with ice cubes.

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir gently and strain.

Garnish with an orange zest. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

– You can replace orange bitter with the same amount of angostura and orange zest with lemon zest.

– Serve the Martinez in a chilled glass to enjoy it at its best.

– If you love drinks made of gin and vermouth, try also Bronx cocktail, prepared with gin, red vermouth, dry vermouth and orange juice.

Variants

The Difford's guide include different recipes for the Martinez, so here it is one of the best variants. In a mixing glass, mix ice, 6 centiliters of gin, 1.5 cl of red vermouth, 0.75 cl of extra dry vermouth, 0.5 cl of maraschino and 2 drops of angostura. Strain through a strainer and pour into a chilled glass.