Martin Special Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Martin Special sits in the easygoing whiskey-highball family, built long and refreshing but served over ice in a lowball. It reads like a modern, fruit-forward twist on a simple whiskey-and-soda template, where fresh produce and citrus do the heavy lifting. Rather than leaning on a storied origin, you’ll find it’s defined by its straightforward balance: spirit, sparkle, and bright fruit.
On the palate, the whiskey brings warmth and depth, while soda water lifts everything with a clean, brisk fizz. Lime adds a sharp, zesty snap that keeps the drink from feeling heavy, and it plays especially well against the whiskey’s natural richness. Kiwi contributes a soft, juicy fruitiness that rounds the edges of the lime’s acidity, giving you a greener, fresher finish that lingers without turning cloying.
Serve it when you want something lighter than a straight pour but more characterful than a standard spritz. It suits whiskey drinkers who enjoy citrusy refreshment, and it’s an easy pick for relaxed afternoons, casual get-togethers, or any moment you want a bright, cooling drink that still tastes unmistakably spirited.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
Whiskey leads with warm grain and oak, brightened by lime’s sharp tang and rounded by juicy kiwi, while soda water lifts everything into a light, sparkling sip that keeps the fruit from feeling heavy. The kiwi’s sweetness softens the whiskey as lime snaps it back into focus, making a balanced, easy drink for highball fans who want their whiskey refreshed and fruit-forward.
Method
How to make a Martin Special
- Whiskey 60ml, Soda water 30ml, Lime 20ml, Kiwi 1
-
- Fill a lowball glass with ice and add two shots of Southern Comfort, a shot of soda water, the juice of one kiwi and some lime juice
-
- Stir and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Martin Special with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Learn more about some of the mixology terms used in this cocktail
· Stir ·Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the ideal glassware for serving a Martin Special?
The ideal glassware for serving a Martin Special is a lowball glass. This type of glass complements the cocktail's aesthetics and enhances the drinking experience.
Can I substitute Kiwi with another fruit in a Martin Special?
Yes, you can substitute kiwi with another fruit in a Martin Special. Passion fruit or mango could be good alternatives, offering a similar level of sweetness and tartness to complement the whiskey and lime.
Is it crucial to stir the Martin Special, or can it be shaken?
For a Martin Special, it is recommended to stir the cocktail instead of shaking it. Stirring helps to maintain the cocktail's clarity and texture, which is preferable for this specific mix.
How does the alcohol content of a Martin Special compare to a classic whiskey sour?
A Martin Special has an alcohol content of 21.62%, which is slightly lower than a classic whiskey sour, typically around 23-25% alcohol by volume (ABV), depending on the proportions and specific recipe used. The difference is due to the addition of soda water and fruit in the Martin Special, which dilutes the cocktail slightly.
What type of whiskey is best used in a Martin Special?
For a Martin Special, a smooth, mellow whiskey works best to complement the sweetness of the kiwi and lime. A bourbon or a rye whiskey, depending on personal preference for a sweeter or spicier profile, respectively, would be suitable choices.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Savor this fruity raspberry whiskey cocktail twist
Raspberry Lynchburg
Whiskey, Raspberry liqueur, Sugar / simple syrup, Lemon-lime soda, Lime juice
Try this timeless blend of whiskey and Chartreuse
Tipperary No.1
Whiskey, Green Chartreuse, Red vermouth
Try this classic mix of amaretto and whiskey
Godfather
Whiskey, Amaretto
Explore this maritime-inspired whisky and mezcal mix.
Sea Legs
Whiskey, Mezcal, Orgeat syrup, Lime juice, Celery bitters, Aromatic bitters
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments