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Martini vs Martinez
The Martini and the drink it came from — same gin, opposite vermouth, and a century of drying out in between.
Which should you make?
Start with the Martinez if the Martini has ever struck you as severe. Sweet vermouth, maraschino and bitters give it something to hold on to where the Martini gives you cold gin and a lemon twist, and the Martinez is much harder to make badly. Go the other way once you want the drink to disappear rather than linger.
| Attribute | Martini | Martinez Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| In a word | bone dry, soft, light — a spirit and modifier drink served straight up, no ice. | sweet, soft, light — a spirit and modifier drink served straight up, no ice. |
| Structure | Spirit and modifier | Spirit and modifier |
| Family | Martini | Martini |
| Smells of | Citrus peel, Juniper and botanicals | Citrus peel |
| Technique | StirringA heavy, silky, completely clear drink. Alcohol reads more sharply than in the same drink shaken, because nothing has softened it. | StirringA heavy, silky, completely clear drink. Alcohol reads more sharply than in the same drink shaken, because nothing has softened it. |
| Base spirit | gin | gin |
| Strength | strong | strong |
| ABV | 30% | 26% |
| Calories | 175 kcal | 185 kcal |
| Sweetness | 0/5 | 3/5 |
| Sourness | 0/5 | 0/5 |
| Bitterness | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Prep time | 5 min | 4 min |
| Difficulty | medium | medium |
| Equipment | Mixing glass, Bar spoon, Jigger, Hawthorne strainer | Mixing glass, Bar spoon, Jigger, Hawthorne strainer |
| Occasions | nightcap, celebration, everyday | aperitif, dinner, nightcap |
| Alcohol-free option | No | No |
Choose the Martini if you'd rather keep the calories down and you want something more spirit-forward.
Choose the Martinez if you want something lighter in alcohol and you want something quick to make.
Can you make both?
Both need: Gin.
- Only the Martini
- Dry vermouth
- Only the Martinez
- Sweet vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, Angostura bitters
What actually separates them
sweetness
The Martinez is markedly sweeter — 3/5 against 0/5 — so the Martini is the one to reach for if that is not what you want.
Effectively identical on: sourness.