The Martini’s unlikely ancestor

Mixology fun fact:
(Recipe at the end)

In the mid-1800s, bartenders were often asked for a cocktail known as a Martinez. For those of us who haven’t had the pleasure of tasting one, it is a gin cocktail served up, traditionally with Old Tom gin. It used sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and angostura bitters. A wonderful blend that held aromatic enchantment that evoked a sense of expression, of individuality. But as time went on, people began shifting to a sense of “refinement” and “distinct identity”. Little by little, mixologists stripped away the ingredients that made the Martinez stand out, eventually concluding in what is now the Martini. 🍸

In a way, these drinks are evidence of societal norms shifting in real time. Kinda wild to think, huh?

The Martinez:
- 1.5oz Old Tom gin
- 1.5oz sweet vermouth
- 0.25oz maraschino liqueur
- 2 dashes of angostura or orange bitters

Stir and serve in a chilled coupe glass, garnish with expressed lemon peel and maraschino cherry.

The Martinez and the Martini are 2 very distinct variations but remain in the same family. The same way we are all very distinct variations but yet all God’s children.