martinez

In the 1860s, Julio Martinez met a bartender in San Francisco who was experimenting with new cocktail recipes. The bartender mixed gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters, naming the cocktail after Martinez. The Martinez cocktail became popular in San Francisco but was forgotten during Prohibition. In the 1990s, bartenders revived the cocktail and experimented with different gin and vermouth combinations, settling on Old Tom gin and sweet vermouth with an orange twist garnish. Today, the Martinez is a beloved classic cocktail enjoyed worldwide.

Martinez

Aging Time

4-5 Weeks

Ingredients

1 liter oak barrel
750 ml gin
250 ml sweet vermouth
1 oz maraschino liqueur
1 oz orange bitters

Instructions:

First, prepare your oak barrel by soaking it in water for five days to allow the wood to expand and seal any leaks.
Combine the gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and orange bitters in a pitcher/vessel.
Allow the cocktail to age in the barrel for 4-6 weeks, tasting it periodically until it reaches your desired level of oakiness.
Once the cocktail has aged to your liking, transfer it back to a decanter or bottle.
Strain it into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well chilled.
Strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a twist of orange peel.

Enjoy your deliciously aged Martinez cocktail!