Blueberry Lemon Martinez

Looking for a sophisticated and elegant cocktail you can easily make at home? Try this blueberry lemon martinez as a unique variation to the classic gin-based drink. 

Making riffs on classic cocktails is one of our favorite ways to make new and interesting drink recipes. Classic cocktails are classics for a reason, and we aren’t trying to change that. But as any good classic, as long as the foundation is there, a slight change in profile or the spirits used can make a completely new flavor that refreshes the original take.

Martinez Cocktail History

The martinez cocktail is named after the city of Martinez, California; how it got that name, however, isn’t exactly clear. Some say it was created by Jerry Thomas for a traveler on their way to Martinez, while others say it was created in the city of Martinez itself. We suggest that you make one while you think about it yourself. 

Traditionally the martinez cocktail finds itself halfway between a gin martini and a classic manhattan. Borrowing the flavors of each, a classic martinez is made with Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and Angostura bitters, with an orange garnish. However, since it was first made, the type of gin used has evolved over time to suit different tastes. Old Tom gives a sweeter profile to the drink compared to a cocktail made with London Dry gin. But this really comes down to personal preference.

Blueberry Lemon Martinez Ingredients

For our twist on the martinez cocktail, we started by finding the perfect gin for our vision: Stonecutter Spirits Single Barrel Gin. This gin, which is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels, has a beautiful finish of vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel that works perfectly in a sweeter gin cocktail such as the martinez.

To complement those sweet vanilla and butterscotch tones, we went to one of our favorite flavor combinations: blueberry and lemon. Substituting blueberry liqueur for the traditional maraschino liqueur, and lemon bitters for Angostura bitters, we kept true to the feeling of a classic martinez while changing up the traditional flavors with a new, fun combination.

Here is everything you’ll need to make this fun flavored variation on a martinez cocktail:

• Stonecutter Spirits Single Barrel Gin
• Sweet vermouth
• Blueberry liqueur
• Lemon bitters
• Lemon peel for garnish

If you unfortunately can’t find Stonecutter Spirits Single Barrel Gin (check out where you can find it here), we would recommend using Old Tom gin as it still has a sweeter profile and is the traditional choice for a martinez.

How To Make A Blueberry Lemon Martinez Cocktail

To make this easy riff on a martinez cocktail, you’ll need a coupe glass, a mixing glass or shaker, a bar spoon, and a Hawthorne strainer. You’ll also want to grab a vegetable peeler or a paring knife to slice and shape your lemon peel garnish.

Here’s how to make our blueberry lemon martinez recipe:

1. First, place a coupe glass in the freezer to chill while you prepare the cocktail.
2. Then, fill a mixing glass (or the bottom half of a shaker) with 2 to 3 large ice cubes. Add the gin, sweet vermouth, blueberry liqueur, and lemon bitters to the mixing glass.
3. Stir rapidly with a bar spoon to mix and chill the ingredients.
4. Next, grab your chilled coupe glass from the freezer and use a Hawthorne strainer to strain the cocktail into the glass.
5. Finally, spritz with a lemon peel by twisting it over the top of the glass, then garnish and serve.

Following tradition, the martinez should be served up in a coupe glass just as any good martini or Manhattan would be. And as a drink served up – meaning the drink is chilled and served in a cocktail glass (or up off the bar top) – it is important for both the drink AND the glass to be chilled to keep the drink cold for longer. The benefit of serving a drink like this is that no ice is needed, which keeps your cocktail from becoming diluted as you enjoy it.

To chill the drink, you should stir it with large cubes of ice. There are two reasons for this. One, the large cubes of ice will chill the drink while minimizing any dilution. Two, by stirring instead of shaking, the ice won’t break apart and leave shards within your cocktail – meaning less dilution and a smooth mouthfeel.

And finally, the lemon peel garnish also has two purposes. It provides the sophisticated and sleek look that your cocktail deserves. But it also provides additional aromas that add to the profile of the drink, by spritzing the lemon over the glass and then garnishing with the peel.

To achieve the lemon garnish, use a vegetable peeler to take off a length of lemon peel. Then use a knife to cut away a roughly half-inch by 2 to 3 inch rectangle. Twist the peel over the drink in a spiral, almost as if you are trying to make the shape of a paper straw or a container of cinnamon rolls. This will leave the essence of the lemon on your cocktail, and create the garnish twist featured in our pictures.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This variation on a classic martinez cocktail is the perfect drink for gin lovers! It’s an easy, slow sipper that’s gin-forward, yet balanced by the sweetness of the blueberry liqueur and sweet vermouth. If you love to sip on a classy cocktail out of a fancy glass, this recipe will be your new go-to.

Make a blueberry lemon martinez for a special date night at home, or treat your friends and family to a round of post-dinner party cocktails instead of dessert. No matter the occasion, you’ll be glad you found this recipe!