Martinez cocktail in a coupe glass with an orange twist

Martinez (oude version)

Name: Martinez (oude version)
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 serving
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: Oude genever — 60 ml (2 oz); Dry vermouth — 15 ml (1/2 oz); Carpano Antica Formula vermouth — 15 ml (1/2 oz); Maraschino liqueur — 5 ml (1/6 oz)

Stir ∙ Coupe glass ∙ 3 min ∙ 26.9% ABV ∙

The Martinez is a stirred, spirit-forward gin cocktail — the acknowledged precursor to the Martini — built here on oude genever with vermouth and a touch of maraschino. Malty and rich from the genever, with sweet-dry vermouth balance and a whisper of maraschino cherry, finishing on bright orange oil — an elegant pre-dinner sipper.

Ingredients

Servings

Garnish

Orange twist

Instructions for 1 serving

Pre-chill a glass
Stir the ingredients with ice: Oude genever 60 mlDry vermouth 15 mlCarpano Antica Formula vermouth 15 mlMaraschino liqueur 5 ml
Strain into the chilled glass
Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish

Tips

Stir over ice about 30 seconds to chill and dilute this all-spirit build without clouding it.
Split the vermouth between dry and a sweet Carpano Antica keeps the drink balanced rather than cloying.
Keep maraschino to a small pour — it perfumes the drink fast and turns syrupy if overdone.
Express an orange twist over the surface, then drop it in, to lift the malty genever base.

History

The Martinez's origin is unclear and disputed. Two early stories credit bartender Jerry Thomas at San Francisco's Occidental Hotel, or a bartender named Richelieu working a saloon in Martinez, California, though records from the period are missing or incomplete. Thomas's 1887 edition of The Bar-Tender's Guide includes a Martinez built on Old Tom gin. An earlier 1884 guide by O.H. Byron listed a Martinez simply as "same as Manhattan, only you substitute gin for whisky." A later 1888 manual by Harry Johnson recorded a possibly misspelled "martine." The drink is widely regarded as the direct precursor to the Martini, and modern versions vary chiefly between maraschino and curaçao. This oude-genever build reaches back toward gin's Dutch ancestor.

FAQ

How do you make a Martinez cocktail?

Stir oude genever, dry vermouth, sweet Carpano Antica Formula vermouth, and a small measure of maraschino liqueur over ice until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with an orange twist expressed over the surface.

What variations of the Martinez exist?

Versions differ mainly by liqueur and gin. Difford's lists an Old Tom version with Old Tom gin and maraschino, a London Dry version with dry gin, and an Orange version using curaçao and orange bitters. This build swaps in oude genever, gin's malty Dutch ancestor.

Is a Martinez sweeter than a Martini?

Yes, a Martinez is sweeter and richer than a modern Martini. It carries sweet vermouth and a touch of maraschino liqueur, whereas a dry Martini leans on dry vermouth alone, making it crisper and more austere.

What is the difference between a Negroni and a Martinez?

A Negroni is equal parts gin, red bitter, and sweet vermouth, bittersweet and served over ice. A Martinez is a gin-and-vermouth drink sweetened with a little maraschino, stirred and served up — closer to a Martini than to a Negroni.

Is a Martinez shaken or stirred?

Stirred. Being an all-spirit drink with no citrus or egg, the Martinez is stirred over ice and strained, which keeps it clear and silky rather than clouded and aerated.

What glass is a Martinez served in?

A Martinez is served up in a chilled coupe glass, without ice, and finished with an orange twist. A stemmed glass keeps the drink cold and shows off its clarity.