Classic Martinez Cocktail

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Martinez is a cocktail that any classic drink connoisseur will definitely want to note. It may even become your new favorite.

This is one of the predecessors to the classic gin martini. It is very similar though a just a little bit different, so it can easily shake up any cocktail routine you may find yourself in.

In the Martinez, a hint of sweetness is added to the gin and vermouth combination. It opts for sweet vermouth over dry and brings in just a hint of maraschino liqueur. The result is a smooth and uplifting drink that is perfect at any time of day.

Classic Martinez Cocktail

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

"The Martinez is a perfect cocktail when made properly. The spice notes of the gin dance on the sweet vermouth while the maraschino pops an upbeat to every sip. It is so memorable that even when you have a bad one (and you will), you will want to try a Martinez again." —Sean Johnson

Classic Martinez Cocktail
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Classic Martinez Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Pour the gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters into a mixing glass with ice cubes.

    Pour the gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Angostura bitter into a mixing glass with ice cubes

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Stir well.

    stir cocktail ingredients in a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Twist the lemon peel over the drink and drop it into the glass. Serve and enjoy.

    Classic Martinez Cocktail, Twist the lemon peel over the drink

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tip

  • To be a traditionalist, use Old Tom Gin like that produced by Hayman's.

Recipe Variations

  • Some recipes replace the maraschino liqueur with dry vermouth and/or Cointreau or triple sec.
  • The classic Emerson cocktail is very similar. To make it, shake 2 ounces gin, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 1/2 ounce lemon juice, and 1/2 ounce maraschino.

How Strong Is the Martinez?

As you might imagine with a cocktail made entirely of liquor, the Martinez is not a low-proof cocktail. Drinks of this style never are.


If using a 30-proof vermouth, 80-proof gin, and 64-proof maraschino, you can estimate that the Martinez has an alcohol content of about 31 percent ABV (62 proof). That is not a light cocktail, so take it easy.

The Martinez as the Father of the Martini

You cannot have a discussion about the history of the martini without speaking of the Martinez. The Martinez came first.

It is widely accepted that the Martinez had a direct influence on the creation of the martini. A few accounts of the Martini's origin refer to Martinez, California where a plaque still marks the occasion. This town had an obvious and direct influence on naming the Martinez cocktail.

The Martinez recipe is old. It was first printed in the 1887 edition of "The Bon Vivant's Companion: Or How to Mix Drinks" by Professor Jerry Thomas. It is Thomas who is credited with creating this sweet drink while working in California for a patron traveling to (where else?) Martinez.

According to ​"The Joy of Mixology" by Gary (Gaz) Regan, Thomas' Martinez was heavy on vermouth, light on the gin, and called for Boker's bitters, which is no longer available (Angostura is a great substitute). Add a little maraschino and a lemon twist and you have a great, often overlooked, sweetened gin cocktail.

In his book, Regan refers to the Martinez as "born of the Manhattan...and is the father, or perhaps grandfather, of the Dry Gin Martini." This statement would allude to the possibility that the Manhattan begat the Martinez, which begat the martini. The martini just happened to have emerged as the most popular of the three.

Cocktail origins are always a little hazy and have some mystery, so you may never be absolutely sure. However, today's cocktail historians are very good at deciphering and decoding the past and it is a good chance that they are correct on this one.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
198 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 198
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 39%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 34mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)