Tracing the origins of the Martinez is like unravelling the mystery of the colony of albino crocodiles that was said to live in the sewers of New York City. Each tale is grounded in an established fact. But that one truth is surrounded by elements that fall squarely in the realm of urban legend.
Martinez: The Unsung Gentleman Behind the Martini
As for the cocktail (more on the draindwelling reptiles later), nowadays the Martinez is a nobody. It appears in a couple of recipe books from the second half of the 19th century, but then the trail goes cold, partly due to growing speculation that it may have been an ancestor of the Martini, which subsequently stole the scene. In any case, the Martinez existed and was served before dinner to whet the appetite. However, that’s where certainty ends and unverifiable hearsay begins.
The Origins of a Classic
According to one story, the inventor of the Martinez was entrepreneur Joe Leiter. The problem is that he was just a young boy when the drink first appeared: it’s one thing for Leiter to be precocious, but this version sounds somewhat far-fetched. A second theory revolves around the Californian town of Martinez and its gold prospector habitués in the 1860s. Yet, as historian David Wondrich points out, the only evidence for this account is the testimony of an old gentleman who was only a baby at the time. Basically, we’re fumbling in the dark. It’s rather like the case of our white crocs: one was actually spotted and killed in East Harlem in 1935. The rest is about as certain as Leiter and the Californian saloons.
The Martinez Cocktail Recipe
Whatever the origins, here’s the recipe from the third edition of Bartender’s Guide (Jerry Thomas, 1887).
Ingredients
1 dash of Bitters
2 dashes of Maraschino
30 ml of Old Tom Gin
60 ml of Vermouth
Method
Place the ingredients and ice in a shaker. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. “If the drinker prefers it very sweet, add two dashes of gum syrup.”
Garnish
A quarter of a lemon slice.
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Images credits Julie Couder x Coqtail, location Lubna Milano – all rights reserved
