how to make a 1942 cocktail martini

The 1942 martini is a tequila based drink that is a twist on the classic gin martini. The main difference from the classic martini is that the base spirit in this drink is tequila. The other ingredients in the drink are dry vermouth and orange bitters.

Unlike the traditional martini, the 1942 drink uses orange bitters. You could use any tequila of your choice, but many recipes call for Don Julio. The kind of tequila you use will slightly vary the taste of the drink, but most of its flavor do come from the bitters you use.

I am not really sure why the drink is called a 1942 martini. There is a tequila that is known as the Don Julio 1942, it is quite possible that the drink somehow gets its name from the tequila that was used.

Ingredients

  • 2 shots of Tequila, preferably Don Julio 1942
  • 1 shot of dry vermouth, preferably Dolin Blanc
  • couple of dashes of orange bitters
  • an orange peel for garnish
1942 cocktail with tequila and vermouth

Recipe/Preparation

  1. Add some ice cubes into a martini shaker
  2. Add 2 shots of tequila into the shaker
  3. Add a shot of the dry vermouth into the shaker
  4. Shake the contents of the shaker well
  5. Add several dashes of the orange bitters into a chilled martini glass
  6. Swirl the bitters around the glass to evenly coat the sides
  7. Strain the contents of the shaker into the glass
  8. Garnish the drink with an orange peel

Variations

Classic Martini: A classic martini is made with Gin or Vodka as the base spirit. It contains dry vermouth but no bitters.
Tequila Martini: This is a slight variation, where all the ingredients remain the same but the proportions differ.

Tips and Notes

  • Use a good quality 100% agave tequila, which will make the drink taste a whole lot better
  • Again, use a good quality dry vermouth such as Dolin Blanc. Good ingredients will make the drink that much better
  • There are a couple of good quality orange bitters, such as Angostura or Fee Brothers.
  • If you are not crazy about the orange bitters, then try another bitter. The drink may not be a 1942 but you might find something that you like.