1888 Martinez
The Martinez and other early “Martinis,” were a lot like the first Manhattan recipes. Many such recipes called for a 2:1 ratio of vermouth to gin–which you are welcome to try! I went with 1:1 here. The gin, of course, would have been in the sweetened Old Tom style or Holland gin, aka genever. Lemon is traditional, but I went with an orange twist, wrapped around a cherry for visual interest.
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ oz. Old Tom gin*, aged or unaged
1 ½ oz. sweet vermouth
1 teaspoon Curaçao or ½ teaspoon maraschino liqueur**
2 dashes aromatic bitters, such as Angostura or Bogart’s
Orange peel, for garnish
Cocktail cherry, for garnish
ABV LEVEL
Combine all in a mixing glass. Fill three-quarters up with ice and stir for 20 seconds. Strain into a stemmed cocktail glass. Using a vegetable peeler, cut a long piece of orange peel, ideally 5-inches x 1-inch. Square off the edges using a knife. Spritz the oils from the peel onto the surface of the drink. Wrap the peel around a cherry and skewer carefully with a cocktail pick. Place pick across glass.
*For a Holland gin version, use a genever with plenty of malt spirit, such as Bols.
** Maraschino is true to the period but can easily overpower the cocktail, hence the smaller measure called for.
