Martinez

The Martinez is definitely not as famous as its younger cousin, the Martini, but it's a fantastic drink and a great gin drink for people who don't think they like gin. We like to use Old Tom Gin, a less intimidating and slightly sweeter gin, to help round out all of the flavors in the Martinez. Old Tom Gin is sometimes referred to as the "missing link" between the London Dry style and the sweeter Dutch Genever gins. Ransom Spirits from Sheridan, Oregon (a little more than an hour away from Portland) makes a fantastic Old Tom Gin that is aged in French Oak for 6 to 12 months. Hayman's makes an Old Tom Gin that is quite nice as well but is not aged. I personally think that the Ransom works better in this drink with the sweet vermouth and maraschino, and the Hayman's is superior in a drink like the Tom Collins, but they are basically interchangeable in these drinks.