IBA
Martinez – IBA
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 28.1% ABV ∙
The Martinez stirs equal parts London dry gin and sweet vermouth with maraschino liqueur and orange bitters — a forerunner of the Martini. Silky and cold with a slow, wine-tinted sweetness that fades into a bittersweet, faintly nutty finish and a bright citrus lift from the twist.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 45 mlRosso vermouth 45 mlMaraschino liqueur 2 bspOrange bitters 2 ml
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- Express the lemon twist's oils over the surface before dropping it in for a brighter aromatic lift.
- Stir for about 30 seconds over ice to reach full dilution without bruising the gin.
- Pre-chill the cocktail glass so the drink doesn't warm up during the strain.
History
The Martinez – IBA is the International Bartenders Association's official specification of the Martinez, codifying a single standard recipe and method for global competition and bartending use. It calls for London dry gin and rosso vermouth in equal parts with maraschino liqueur and orange bitters, stirred and served in a cocktail glass with a lemon twist, fixing proportions and gin style where historical versions varied between Old Tom, dry, and Genever gins, and between maraschino and curaçao.
Martinez itself is a 19th-century American cocktail first appearing in print in the 1880s, generally described as a forerunner of the Martini and closely related to the Manhattan, with its origin credited variously to a San Francisco bartender working at the Occidental Hotel and to a bartender at a saloon in Martinez, California, a dispute never conclusively settled. The IBA build standardizes this older, variable drink into one fixed set of proportions and ingredients for its official list.
FAQ
What is in a Martinez cocktail?
Equal parts London dry gin and Rosso vermouth, with maraschino liqueur and orange bitters, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass. It's garnished with a lemon twist.
How do you make a Martinez drink?
Stir the gin, vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters with ice until well chilled, then strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Pre-chilling the glass beforehand keeps the drink colder for longer once served.
What is an IBA cocktail?
An IBA cocktail is one of the official cocktails recognized by the International Bartenders Association, a list used as a global reference standard for classic recipes. The Martinez holds this status as one of the recognized unforgettable classics.
What's the difference between a Negroni and a Martinez?
A Negroni is equal parts gin, a red bitter such as Campari, and sweet vermouth, giving it a bold bitter edge, while a Martinez swaps the bitter liqueur for maraschino and orange bitters, making it sweeter and more delicate with a cherry-like note.
Is a Martinez sweeter than a Martini?
Yes, a Martinez is noticeably sweeter than a Martini. It uses equal parts gin and sweet vermouth plus maraschino liqueur, whereas a Martini is gin-forward with only a small amount of dry vermouth, giving it a much drier, more spirit-driven profile.
How is a Martinez different from a Tuxedo?
A Tuxedo is built closer to a Martini, using gin and dry vermouth with maraschino liqueur and orange bitters, giving it a crisp, dry character. A Martinez instead uses sweet vermouth in place of dry, making it rounder and sweeter overall.
What kind of gin is best for a Martinez?
A London dry gin is the standard choice, as its juniper-forward, crisp character balances the sweetness of the vermouth and maraschino liqueur. A softer or more floral gin style can get lost against those stronger flavors.
