Preparation
- Pre-chill the serving glass. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
- Stir with a long spoon until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted, roughly 20–30 seconds as a starting point.
- Strain through a bar strainer into the chilled glass, leaving the stirring ice behind.
- Finish with a garnish: lemon zest.
What does it taste like?
The Martinez starts off sweet and soft. That's thanks to the red vermouth, of which there's just as much in the glass as gin. The juniper from the gin only comes through afterward, giving the drink structure. Maraschino, a cherry liqueur, adds a bittersweet layer on top. The orange bitters set a bitter note at the end, and the lemon zest adds aroma. There's no juice involved—everything in the glass is alcohol. Even so, the Martinez doesn't feel harsh, because the sweetness smooths over the edges.
When does it work best?
The Martinez is an aperitif, a drink for before the meal. It's short, cold, and strong, but the sweetness makes it feel friendlier than a dry Martini. Beginners will find this a good way into stirred classics. If you like things bone dry, you'll find it too sweet. Sip it slowly—there's no juice to dilute it.
What matters
The high vermouth ratio is intentional, so don't cut it back. Vermouth is wine: an old, opened bottle tastes tired and stands out immediately in this mix. Buy small bottles and refrigerate them after opening. Stir for 20 to 30 seconds with plenty of ice and strain into the pre-chilled glass. Express the lemon zest over the glass so the first sip carries its aroma.
Where the drink comes from
The Martinez belongs to the old family of cocktails made from gin and vermouth. The various Martini styles later developed out of this family. It's impossible to say for certain which drink came first or who mixed it. In the version shown here, sweet vermouth and Maraschino remain clearly noticeable. This is exactly what makes the difference visible: a very dry modern Martini is far removed from this style. The Martinez shows just how differently gin cocktails can turn out.