If you are a regular follower of our blog, you will know that we certainly love our gin drinks, such as G&Ts, Gimlets, and the French 75 (especially in slushie form). Gin drinks are usually associated with the warmer weather, but as gin-lovers we find ways to have our gin all year round. Enter the Martinez: a classic gin cocktail that boasts a delicious, spirit-forward flavor and comes from mysterious origins.
The Martinez is considered to be a precursor to the modern Martini. This cocktail traditionally consists of Old Tom Gin (sweetened gin), sweet vermouth, Maraschino liquor, and a dash of bitters – like a perfect bridge between a Manhattan and a Martini.
The origins of the Martinez are shrouded in a bit of mystery. Bartender Jerry Thomas claims to have invented the cocktail back in 1884 for a customer traveling to the city of Martinez, California. To muddy the waters of the true origins of this cocktail, the first mention of the Martinez in print was in The Modern Bartender’s Guide (also in 1884) – which actually lists two recipes for the drink – so who even really knows the true origins??
Kyle had his first Martinez at the Philadelphia Distilling, home of Blue Coat Gin and the first craft distillery to open in Philadelphia since Prohibition. It is indeed a magical place, maybe the happiest place on earth (sorry Disney World, but may we suggest adding a gin section to the amusement park?). Philadelphia Distilling put their own spin on the Martinez by using their Barrel-Aged Gin in place of Old Tom Gin.
Barrel-aged gin yields a darker spirit with notes of vanilla and caramel, giving the gin major bourbon flavor and further blurring the line between Manhattan and Martini when used in the Martinez. While the barrel-aged gin is not a traditional component in the Martinez, the drink’s mysterious origin lends itself of experimentation and variation.
Kyle goes a step further with the cocktail and adds a splash of water, further opening up the bourbon-esque flavor in the drink, much like it does when added to a glass of whiskey. It is not exactly traditional to the Martinez, but the cocktail really allows for open interpretation -and- it tastes fabulous!
This cocktail is not quite as strong as a Manhattan, nor is it as sweet as an Old Fashioned. However, this “Barrel-Aged” Martinez is a cocktail that has vintage flare, reminiscent of many bourbon-based cocktails, but made with our favorite – GIN! This particular recipe made enough to serve up two cocktails, but it could be easily be scaled up, allowing you to serve a carafe, made ahead of time for your next holiday get-together. Cheers!
Inspired by Philadelphia Distilling; recipe adapted from PUNCH.
- 3 ounces barrel-aged gin
- 3 ounces sweet vermouth
- 2 teaspoons Luxardo maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- A splash of still or sparkling water
- orange peels, for garnish
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into 2 chilled coupe or cocktail glasses. Finish the drink with a splash of water.
- Garnish each drink with an orange peel.
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