The Martinez: A Complete History & Classic Recipe

Elegant, aromatic, and quietly revolutionary, the Martinez is the missing link between the Old World and the modern cocktail era — the elegant ancestor of the Martini, and one of the most beautifully balanced drinks ever created.

Combining gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters, the Martinez embodies the moment when 19th-century mixology evolved from spirit-sugar simplicity into aromatic precision.

It’s a drink of transitions — between gin and whiskey, between sweet and dry, between the 1800s and modern sophistication. One sip feels like time travel in a coupe glass.

I. Origins

The true origins of the Martinez are clouded in charming controversy — a tale of competing bartenders, transcontinental travel, and the dawn of the gin age.

Theory 1: The California Connection

The most romantic (and oft-repeated) story traces the drink to Martinez, California, around 1860–1870. According to legend, a gold miner on his way to San Francisco stopped at a bar in the small port town of Martinez and asked for something special. The bartender mixed gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino, and bitters — and the man carried the recipe to San Francisco, where it became known as The Martinez Special.

Theory 2: Jerry Thomas at the Occidental

Another version credits Jerry Thomas, the “Professor” and author of The Bar-Tender’s Guide (1887 edition). Thomas’s Martinez recipe combined Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino, and bitters — strikingly similar to modern interpretations.

Given Thomas’s status as America’s first celebrity bartender, his imprimatur helped secure the Martinez’s place in history.

Regardless of its birthplace, the Martinez represents a turning point — when vermouth joined the American cocktail canon and gin evolved from a rough spirit to a refined staple.

II. Historical Evolution

The 1860s–1880s – The Birth of Balance

The Martinez emerged during a time when bartenders began experimenting with imported vermouth from Italy and France. The result was a more refined, aromatic style of drink — a departure from sugar-heavy “gin slings” and “fancy cocktails.”

It became one of the earliest vermouth cocktails, alongside the Manhattan, which used whiskey instead of gin.

The 1890s–1910s – The Martini Emerges

Over time, the Martinez recipe evolved: bartenders began using drier gins and dry vermouth, creating a lighter, crisper profile. This gradual shift gave birth to the Martini — a dryer, more austere descendant that would define 20th-century cocktail culture.

The Martinez, however, remained the connoisseur’s choice — richer, deeper, and more aromatic.

The 2000s–Present – Rediscovery and Reverence

With the modern cocktail renaissance, the Martinez returned to prominence. Bartenders rediscovered its depth and complexity, often using small-batch gins and boutique vermouths to showcase its balance.

Today, it’s celebrated not just as a precursor to the Martini, but as a masterpiece in its own right.

III. Ingredients & Technique

The Martinez is all about aromatic harmony — juniper, cherry, citrus, and spice coexisting in delicate proportion.

Core Components

• Gin: Traditionally Old Tom (lightly sweet), but London Dry or modern botanical gins also work.

• Sweet Vermouth: Adds richness and herbal complexity.

• Maraschino Liqueur: Provides a subtle cherry-almond note.

• Bitters: Adds structure; Angostura or orange bitters both suit.

The Classic Ratio (Modern Standard)

• 2 oz (60 ml) Old Tom gin

• 1 oz (30 ml) sweet vermouth

• 0.25 oz (7 ml) maraschino liqueur

• 1 dash Angostura bitters (or orange bitters)

IV. Cultural Significance

The Martinez stands as a bridge between eras — the cocktail that links the spice of the Old Fashioned to the clarity of the Martini.

It represents the moment when bartending became art, when flavor balance and aroma replaced brute sweetness and punch.

Culturally, the Martinez also reflects America’s 19th-century fascination with Europe — Italian vermouth, Dutch or English gin, and maraschino from Croatia all converging in a single glass.

For modern drinkers, it’s an act of nostalgia — a reminder that complexity can come not from excess, but from precision and patience.

V. How to Make the Classic Version Today

Recipe — The Classic Martinez

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) Old Tom gin (or London Dry for a crisper version)

• 1 oz (30 ml) sweet vermouth (e.g., Carpano Antica or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino)

• 0.25 oz (7 ml) maraschino liqueur (e.g., Luxardo)

• 1 dash Angostura bitters or orange bitters

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.

2. Stir gently until chilled and perfectly diluted.

3. Strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.

4. Garnish with a lemon twist or cherry.

Specs

• Glass: Coupe or Nick & Nora

• Ice: Stirred, served up

• Garnish: Lemon twist or brandied cherry

• Style: Aromatic gin cocktail

Technique Notes

• Stir, don’t shake. Clarity and smoothness are essential.

• Old Tom gin adds roundness; dry gin adds crispness — choose according to mood.

• A lemon twist will brighten; a cherry will deepen — both are correct.

Variations & Lineage

• Dry Martinez: Use London Dry gin and dry vermouth.

• Perfect Martinez: Half sweet, half dry vermouth.

• Martini (Descendant): Swap sweet vermouth for dry and omit maraschino.

• Turf Club: Add absinthe for an anise-kissed evolution.

Service & Pairing Tip

• Ideal as a pre-dinner aperitif or thoughtful late-night drink.

• Pairs beautifully with cured meats, olives, or aged cheeses.

VI. Modern Variations & Legacy

The Martinez is no longer a forgotten ancestor — it’s a pillar of modern cocktail education.

It embodies the shift from rustic spirits to refined balance, from brute strength to subtlety. Its rediscovery has inspired a generation of bartenders to appreciate the lineage of flavor — how one drink evolves into another, yet remains distinct.

Today, the Martinez is beloved for its poetic tension: sweet but structured, classic yet timeless. It’s both a history lesson and a sensory delight — the moment when the past and present shake hands across a century.