Marsala Martini

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (49 ratings)

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Ingredients:
1 23 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
13 oz Marsala semisecco (medium)
14 oz Disaronno amaretto
16 oz Strucchi Dry Vermouth
1 dash Boker's bitters optional
× 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 pickled almond.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with pickled almond in cocktail.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 9/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

A Dry Martini delicately influenced by rich marsala and almond notes.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a recipe created circa 2013 by Tony Conigliaro at 69 Colebrooke Row. Tony C's original recipe calls for 50ml London dry gin, 10ml marsala dolce (sweet marsala), 5ml dry vermouth and 3 dashes of 69 Colebrooke Row-housemade almond bitters. Lacking 69 Colebrooke Row's lab kit or the patience to use it, I subbed amaretto for the almond bitters and used a semisecco (medium) marsala.

See Martini cocktail history and evolution

Nutrition:

One serving of Marsala Martini contains 163 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 27.72% alc./vol. (27.72° proof)
  • 20.2 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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Stephen Broughall’s Avatar Stephen Broughall
8th March at 02:52
Further to my comment, I just looked
at your 16th edition and see that the amaretto amount is less and the gin and dry vermouth is upped. I will try this version. Why the change?
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
8th March at 08:04
Hopefully, it was a change that improved the cocktail.
Stephen Broughall’s Avatar Stephen Broughall
8th March at 00:22
The amaretto seemed a bit too strong for me so will reduce it next time. I would think the marsala could also be a big variable. Really different and a creative martini variation. Will try again but play with the ingredients.
Amy’s Avatar Amy
4th May 2024 at 13:18
Tried this a few times but the last version was a winner. Adnams Gin, dry Pellegrino Marsala superiore, noilly prat, disaronno, half a dash chocolate bitters and half a dash liquorice bitters. I will pickle some almonds for the next go.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
20th January 2024 at 12:11
Begs for an olive and/or brine. A rare Martini with layers and depth. Well done!
Jeremy Harrold’s Avatar Jeremy Harrold
15th November 2022 at 06:33
The best single word to describe the drink, ‘sophisticated’.
I used Lustau dry vermouth which gave a great balance to all components.
Frederic D.’s Avatar Frederic D.
2nd July 2022 at 21:58
I used Hendricks, Dolin dry, sherry in lieu of marsala, and a tad too much amaretto (my mistake, I overpoured). Still very good, I think it would have been fantastic if I made it before drinking the Last Word....
Avatar

Anonymous

3rd February 2022 at 18:12
Hi Simon, can you let me know where you get pickled almonds from? Have made this cocktail several times and I love it!
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
3rd February 2022 at 22:29
Not sure they are something you can buy. I think you have to pickle your own. Try with this cocktail at Bar Termini in London's Old Compton Street. Delicious.
Alex White’s Avatar Alex White
3rd October 2021 at 13:48
Used Horsham Serpent Gin, Fantoma Vermouth, 10 YO Verdelho Madeira (as I didn't have Marsala to hand), and Adriatico Amaretto. So good!
Alice-Amanda Hinton’s Avatar Alice-Amanda Hinton
28th August 2021 at 20:48
Complicated and interesting!
Lee Clarke’s Avatar Lee Clarke
16th May 2021 at 10:39
Thanks Simon.