Martinez (with London Dry gin)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (88 ratings)

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Ingredients:
1 23 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
34 oz Strucchi Rosso Vermouth
14 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
1 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
1 drop Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Nick & Nora glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
  3. STIR ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

This Martinez is aromatic, complex and dry. Our previous recipe included dry vermouth to add balance and complexity:
60mml (20z) Drygin
15ml (½oz) Rosso (sweet vermouth
7.5ml (¼) Dry vermouth
5ml (1 barspoon) Maraschino liqueur
1 dah Aromatic bitters

View readers' comments

History:

London dry has been the dominant gin style for over 100 years, so by extension was the gin most frequently used to make a Martinez.
See Martinez cocktail history

Nutrition:

One serving of Martinez (with London Dry gin) contains 163 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 26.21% alc./vol. (26.21° proof)
  • 21 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 8 comments for Martinez (with London Dry gin).
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John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
8th March 2024 at 11:49
Since the history of the Martinez includes both maraschino and orange Curacao, decided to try the latter as a variation- 5ml Pierre Ferrand, accidentally one dash each of orange and angostura bitters. Most satisfactory!
Georgann Meadows’ Avatar Georgann Meadows
15th January 2024 at 03:44
Enjoyed this cocktail! Dry vermouth is mentioned in comments, but I do not see it listed as an ingredient.🤔
Georgann Meadows’ Avatar Georgann Meadows
28th January 2024 at 15:50
Thank you, Simon. The new recipe is my preference. Confession: I'm not a "pure" Martini lover, unlike my mother who enjoyed hers Churchill style ("just show the vermouth bottle to the glass.") Finding the previous version dryer, I enjoyed your revised mix more.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
15th January 2024 at 06:33
You make a good point, Georgann. I should have included the previous recipe when adding my preferred new recipe. I've now added this above. I'm keen to hear your preference.
Cameron Bennett’s Avatar Cameron Bennett
2nd December 2022 at 20:29
This is superb. The maraschino adds an extra level of complexity.
Leon Camfield’s Avatar Leon Camfield
11th April 2022 at 20:20
That is an immense drink. I was sceptical about the dry vermouth, but it absolutely makes this drink.
Anne-Marie Murray’s Avatar Anne-Marie Murray
19th August 2021 at 00:47
A new favorite for me…
15th August 2021 at 00:52
This is the only recipe I have found that includes dry vermouth. Is there a specific reason that you added that to the recipe?
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
15th August 2021 at 07:37
Hi Wendy. The dry vermouth adds balance.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
2nd July 2021 at 23:30
I've been very high on these specs since I first tried them. Stirred one again this evening. Gordon's, Bonal, and Noilly Prat Dry have proven to be a most solid combo.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
7th May 2021 at 23:20
This is a first rate aperitif. I was reading the history of the Martini and this drink came up. One account of its origin was with the miners coming from the Gold Fields in California to San Francisco they had to pass through a town called Martinez. There are some references to the drink being refined in San Francisco and being served in the 1860s.