Martinez (emphasis on the second syllable) – moderately strong (32-35 degrees), but invigorating alcoholic cocktail with juniper notes of gin, sweet wine flavor of red martini, astringency of maraschino, citrus aroma and light herbal bitterness of bitter. Easy to prepare at home.
Historical information
According to the most common version, the Martinez recipe was invented by the legendary bartender and father of American mixology Jerry Thomas in the Eldorado saloon. In 1867, a gold digger came into the bar, who was heading home after a successful fishing trip. The man paid for a bottle of alcohol with a gold nugget, and asked for change to make a unique cocktail. Jerry Thomas quickly mixed gin, red vermouth, cherry liqueur and orange bitter. The guest liked this blend.
Subsequently, the cocktail became one of the most popular drinks among Californian gold miners, which they drank for good luck. The origin of the name is unknown, researchers believe that the first taster went to the town of Martinez (California) or had such a surname.
The recipe was first published in O. Byron’s reference book in 1884, the author wrote about the Martinez cocktail as a variation of Manhattan on gin. In 1887, in Jerry Thomas’s book Bartenders Guide, another version appeared, in which gin was half as much as vermouth. Over time, bartenders have found the optimal proportions for most visitors.
After the gold rush, Martinez was forgotten, but in recent years interest in the cocktail has revived. This can be explained by a specific, difficult to compare taste.
Composition and proportions:
- gin (dry London) – 60 ml;
- red vermouth (Martini Rosso) – 30 ml;
- Maraschino liqueur – 5 ml;
- orange bitter or angostura – 1 ml;
- ice cubes – 300 grams;
- orange peel – 1 piece.
Maraschino is a colorless cherry liqueur with an almond flavor made from a specific Balkan variety of cherries.
Classic Martinez Cocktail Recipe
1. Pour gin, red vermouth, maraschino and 1 dash of bitters into a mixing glass.
2. Add ice. Mix with a spoon.
3. Pour the finished cocktail through a strainer (strainer) into a pre-chilled glass for serving (usually a cocktail glass is used).
4. Squeeze orange zest over cocktail for flavor, then place in glass to garnish.
