The Martinez - Is this the very first martini?

Download the full sized 5x3 Recipe Card in print quality here under the Ms

The birth of the martini is a bit of a mystery but it is very likely that The Martinez was the true beginnings of this King of Cocktails.

The Martinez cocktail can be traced back to the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco in the year 1862. The story goes that the bartender at the Occidental at the time, Jerry Thomas*, made the drink for a gold miner heading out to the small town of Martinez, California.

Thomas' book, The Bon Vivant's Companion published in 1887, offers the first print version of the Martinez which consisted of 1 dash of Boker's Bitters, 2 dashes of Maraschino liqueur, 1 Pony of Old Tom gin, 1 wine glass of Vermouth, garnished with a slice of lemon and an optional dash or so of gum syrup for extra sweetness.

For more on the origins of the martini read THE HISTORY OF THE MARTINI.

*Jeremiah "Jerry" P. Thomas (1830 - 1885) is considered the "father of American Mixology" and is often referred to as The Professor.
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This fun "historical" martini recipe card design is based on my illustration:

PORTRAIT OF A SOILED DOVE

(read how this illustration came about)

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