Martinez Cocktail - London Dry Gin, Sweet Vermouth & Maraschino Classic

Rich, botanical, and more rounded than a dry Martini, the Martinez Cocktail brings equal parts London Dry Gin and sweet vermouth together with a small measure of maraschino and orange bitters. Careful stirring provides the chilling and dilution needed to turn four assertive ingredients into a smooth, integrated drink.

From Manhattan Relative to Martini Ancestor

The Martinez emerged in the late 19th century, with its earliest known printed recipe appearing in O.H. Byron's 1884 The Modern Bartender as a variation on the Manhattan using gin instead of whiskey. Later versions helped establish the combination of gin and vermouth that would eventually develop into the progressively drier Martini.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• London Dry Gin: Provides the firm juniper, citrus, and botanical backbone.
• Sweet Vermouth: Adds herbal richness, wine character, spice, and sweetness.
• Maraschino Luxardo: Contributes a concentrated cherry, almond, and lightly funky liqueur note.
• Orange Bitters: Adds citrus aroma and a dry bitter edge that sharpens the sweeter ingredients.

Substitution tip: Another quality maraschino liqueur can work if Luxardo is unavailable, although its flavor may differ. Old Tom Gin makes an excellent historically inspired variation with a softer, slightly sweeter profile.

Equipment

• Mixing glass
• Jigger
• Bar spoon
• Cocktail strainer
• Cocktail glass
• Citrus peeler

Equal Parts, Carefully Balanced

The Martinez gives gin and sweet vermouth equal weight, so neither ingredient simply supports the other. The vermouth softens the gin while adding herbs and spice, and the small quantity of maraschino supplies enough sweetness and fruit character to make itself known without turning the drink syrupy. Orange bitters tighten the finish and connect the citrus notes in the gin and lemon zest.

Martinez vs. Martini

The Martinez is frequently described as an ancestor of the Martini, but the two drinks have moved far apart. A modern Martini is typically dry and strongly gin-forward, using dry vermouth in a relatively small proportion. The Martinez uses equal parts gin and sweet vermouth, then adds maraschino and orange bitters for a richer, sweeter, and more aromatic profile.

Substitutions & Variations

• Use Old Tom Gin: A softer and slightly sweeter gin moves the drink toward many historical Martinez interpretations.
• Adjust the ratio: Increasing the gin creates a drier, more spirit-forward variation that begins moving toward Martini territory.
• Experiment with vermouth: Different sweet vermouths can emphasize fruit, vanilla, herbs, spice, or bitterness.
• Change the bitters: Aromatic bitters create a warmer, spicier variation, although orange bitters are the classic choice here.
• Reduce the maraschino: A smaller quantity makes the drink drier and puts more emphasis on the gin and vermouth.

Helpful Tips

• Chill the cocktail glass before mixing.
• Refrigerate opened sweet vermouth to help preserve its freshness.
• Measure the maraschino carefully. A small change is noticeable in this drink.
• Use plenty of solid ice and stir until the mixture is very cold and properly diluted.
• Express the lemon zest over the finished cocktail so its citrus oils land on the surface.
• For batching, combine the liquid ingredients in the same proportions, keep the batch refrigerated, then stir individual servings with ice before straining.