Sipping History: How to Make Oppenheimer’s Signature Martini

Candie GetgenJul 20th, 2023, 6:29 pm

Cocktails being poured at the Oppenheimer House in 1946, a year before the official end of the Manhattan Project. (Photo: Los Alamos Historical Society)

Among the iconic figures who savored the allure of martinis in the 1940s was Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, renowned for his pivotal role in the development of the atomic bomb. Deep within the remote confines of Los Alamos, he concocted his very own martini recipe, adapting it to the limited supplies available.

And this makes perfect sense, as the 1940s witnessed the rise of the martini as a cultural icon, assisted by the start of easily-made bathtub gin and gin’s prominent presence in speakeasies. Thus, the martini found its way into the hearts of many other renowned figures of the time, such as Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Alfred Hitchcock and Humphry Bogart, per War on the Rocks.

Furthermore, Oppenheimer was celebrated for playing the perfect host at his residence in Los Alamos, frequently arranging gatherings and casual get-togethers. His magnetic presence consistently drew everyone’s focus, particularly when he took center stage, skillfully crafting and serving his signature martini, according to Discover.

Due to the challenges of obtaining supplies for the remote Los Alamos lab, Oppenheimer had to get crafty when creating his recipe, which features a lot of gin, a dash of vermouth, lime and honey. The theoretical physicist’s recipe and preparation were so good that Pat Sherr, the wife of a Lab physicist, once stated he “served the most delicious and coldest martinis.”

Without further ado:

The Oppenheimer Martini

4 oz Dry gin (recommendations here)
A smidgen of dry vermouth
To rim the glass: lime juice and honey

Stir the gin and vermouth with ice until chilled. Then, strain it into a chilled martini glass with a rim that has been dipped in equal parts honey and lime.

Craving another cocktail recipe? Try your hand at making the “Barbenheimer,” a cinema-inspired drink that combines the pretty pink aesthetic of “Barbie” with a dark “Oppenheimer” twist.

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Candie Getgen

Candie Getgen is an editor and the database manager for The Daily Pour. Before immersing herself in the world of spirits journalism, Candie has been many things: a bartender, a literary journal editor, an English teacher — and even a poet. Candie has a passion for gin and shares it with the world in hopes of helping others fall in love with it, too (if they haven't already!). When not writing, Candie enjoys sipping a Negroni while drawing or relaxing by the pool with a campy mystery novel.