United States

Martinez

Also known as Martinez Cocktail, Martini's Grandfather

A rich, sweet, and herbal cousin of the Dry Martini that leans heavily on vermouth and maraschino liqueur.

herbalsweetcherrybotanicalbitter-orangespirit-forwardvelvetyaperitif

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is sweet and velvety with dark cherry and herbal notes from the vermouth. The middle brings out the gin's botanicals, weaving through the sweetness. It finishes with a lingering, slightly bitter orange and cherry pit warmth.

Who will like it

This is for people who like spirit-forward drinks but prefer a sweeter, richer, and more herbal profile than a bone-dry Martini.

When to drink

Drink this as an aperitif before a rich dinner, or as a nightcap when you want something short and satisfying.

Ordering tip

Ask for Old Tom gin if you want a sweeter, historically accurate version, or London Dry if you want it drier and more botanical.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $2–$4Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyMake aheadHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This drink hits you with a sweet, dark fruit and herbal front, backed up by the pine and citrus of the gin. It has a thick, velvety mouthfeel that coats your tongue. There is a lot going on, shifting from cherry sweetness to dry botanicals as you swallow.

Finish: The finish runs long, with lingering cherry pit, bitter orange, and warm botanical notes.

Primary tastes

sweetherbalfruity

Secondary

bitterfloralearthy

Aroma

orange zestdark cherrybotanicalsweet spice

Bitternessmildly bitter
The orange bitters and herbal notes provide a gentle bitterness that cuts the sweetness.
Sweetnessfairly sweet
Sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur make this a noticeably sweet drink.
Strengthfairly strong
It is a spirit-forward cocktail, but the high vermouth content keeps it from being a knockout.
Refreshinglow refreshment
It is a heavy, sipping drink meant to be savored rather than gulped for thirst.
Creaminesslight body
The vermouth and maraschino give it a silky weight, but it is not creamy.
Complexityhighly complex
The mix of gin botanicals, sweet vermouth herbs, and maraschino creates many layers of flavor.

Recipe

Make it at home

Stirred · Coupe · equal parts on Gin. Old Tom gin is traditional and adds sweetness; London Dry makes it drier

Before you start

Put your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand so the drink stays cold longer. Grab a fresh orange for the peel.

Ingredients

GinBase SpiritOld Tom gin is traditional and adds sweetness; London Dry makes it drier45ml
Sweet VermouthVermouthUse a good quality sweet vermouth as it makes up half the drink45ml
Maraschino LiqueurLiqueurAdds a dry, floral cherry flavor; do not substitute with cherry syrup10ml
Orange BittersBitters2 dashes
Orange PeelGarnish1 twist

Garnish: Orange twist, Luxardo Maraschino cherry (optional)

Tools

Mixing glass · Mixing
To combine and chill the ingredients with ice without shaking them
At home: Large pint glass
Bar spoon · Mixing
To stir the drink smoothly and dilute it properly
At home: Long handled spoon or chopstick
Jigger · Measuring
To measure the gin, vermouth, and maraschino accurately
At home: Measuring spoons or small shot glass
Hawthorne strainer · Straining
To hold back the ice while pouring the drink into the glass
At home: Slotted spoon or fine mesh strainer
Coupe glass · Serving
To serve the chilled drink without ice
At home: Martini glass or small wine glass
Vegetable peeler · Garnish
To cut a clean strip of orange peel for the garnish
At home: Paring knife

Steps

1
Measure 45ml of gin and 45ml of sweet vermouth into your mixing glass. Add 10ml of maraschino liqueur and 2 dashes of orange bitters. The liquid should look deep ruby red.
!Using cheap maraschino liqueur or cherry syrup makes the drink taste like cough syrup.
2
Fill the mixing glass to the top with ice, using large cubes if you have them so the drink doesn't get too watery. Stir smoothly with a bar spoon for about 20 to 30 seconds until the outside of the glass feels very cold to the touch.
~25s
!Stirring too fast or chipping the ice clouds the drink and waters it down too quickly.
3
Take your chilled coupe glass and hold the Hawthorne strainer tightly over the top of the mixing glass. Pour the drink through the strainer into the glass, leaving all the ice behind.
!Letting ice slip into the serving glass waters down the drink as you sip it.
4
Hold an orange peel over the drink and give it a good twist so the citrus oils spray across the surface. Drop the peel into the drink.
!Twisting the peel into the drink before wiping the rim misses the aromatic oils on the glass edge.

Serve

Serve it right away in the chilled coupe without any ice. Drink it before it warms up.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Gin

GinOld Tom Gin
Match
Specialty availability
Gin → Old Tom Gin: Adds a malty sweetness that makes the drink richer and more historically accurate.

Swap options for Sweet Vermouth

Sweet VermouthDry Vermouth
Match
Common availability
Sweet Vermouth → Dry Vermouth: Turns it into a much drier, leaner drink closer to a modern Martini.

Swap options for Maraschino Liqueur

Maraschino LiqueurCherry Heering
Match
Specialty availability
Maraschino Liqueur → Cherry Heering: Adds a richer, spicier cherry flavor but loses the dry floral notes of maraschino.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Manhattan

Uses whiskey instead of gin and lacks maraschino liqueur.

Match

The Martinez feels lighter and more floral than a Manhattan, trading baking spice warmth for cherry and botanical notes.

In common: spirit-forward, sweet vermouth backbone, stirred

Ingredients

Both share

Sweet Vermouth, Orange Bitters

Only in Martinez

Gin, Maraschino Liqueur

Only in Manhattan

Rye Whiskey, Angostura Bitters

Swapping whiskey for gin and adding maraschino changes the drink from warm and spicy to botanical and floral.

Flavor

Shared flavors

sweet vermouth backbone, rich mouthfeel, herbal finish

How Manhattan differs

lighter, more floral, less spicy

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Dry Martini

Uses dry vermouth and no maraschino liqueur, making it much drier.

Match

Where the Martini is sharp and austere, the Martinez is soft, sweet, and fruity.

In common: gin-based, stirred, served up

Ingredients

Both share

Gin, Orange Bitters

Only in Martinez

Sweet Vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur

Only in Dry Martini

Dry Vermouth

The Martinez is much sweeter and heavier due to the sweet vermouth and maraschino, while the Martini is crisp and dry.

Flavor

Shared flavors

botanical gin backbone, orange oil aroma

How Dry Martini differs

sweeter, fruitier, heavier body

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Negroni

Uses Campari instead of maraschino liqueur, making it intensely bitter.

Match

The Martinez skips the bitter bite of a Negroni, leaning into sweet cherry and herbal flavors instead.

In common: gin-based, sweet vermouth, stirred

Ingredients

Both share

Gin, Sweet Vermouth

Only in Martinez

Maraschino Liqueur, Orange Bitters

Only in Negroni

Campari

Replacing maraschino with Campari shifts the drink from sweet and fruity to aggressively bitter and bold.

Flavor

Shared flavors

botanical gin, sweet vermouth richness

How Negroni differs

less bitter, sweeter, cherry notes

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The origin is heavily disputed, with some claiming it was invented in Martinez, California for a thirsty miner, while others credit Jerry Thomas or O.H. Byron in San Francisco. The first printed recipe appeared in O.H. Byron's 1884 guide, and Jerry Thomas included his version in his 1887 edition.

Era: 1880s
IBA: The Unforgettables
Data version: IBA 2020 spec
Confidence

The exact origin and original recipe are disputed; some early recipes used curaçao instead of maraschino.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use Old Tom gin for a richer, sweeter drink.
Stir longer than you think to properly dilute the sweet vermouth.
A good quality sweet vermouth makes or breaks this drink.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't use cheap maraschino liqueur; it will taste like cough syrup.
Don't shake this drink; it will cloud up and get too watery.