The Martinez (Photo by Jennifer Hess)

Over the winter I finally discovered the glories of Old Tom Gin, a sweeter, slightly maltier cousin of the ubiquitous London Dry. It works especially well in a cocktail called the Martinez, a precursor to the martini that features Old Tom and sweet vermouth.

Rhode Island blogger and spirits columnist Michael Dietsch of A Dash of Bitters recently devoted a short post to the Martinez, giving his recipe for this wonderful little drink.

Dietsch’s version leans heavy on the gin (there’s an interesting conversation in the comments section about the recipe’s historical accuracy). But while it’s drier than most Martinez’s I’ve had, the drink is none the worse for it, especially if you want to focus on the flavor of the Old Tom.