Don’t let the name fool you, this Smoked Chili Dirty Martini isn’t really spicy, just very very tasty.
I absolutely Love a good Dirty Martini, A friend recently described the way he likes his dirty martinis as so filthy you should spit in it…lol! I am on the same bandwagon. I love good olives and how the brine transforms a classic martini into a savory drink that is great with tasty snacks or even just a little bowl of bar peanuts.
This Christmas someone gave me this small package that only said, “I could not wait to see what you come up with this!” In the box was a jar of Luxardo cherries and this glorious little bottle of smoked chili bitters from Hella Bitters. The note didn’t even say who it was from. Whoever you are, I thank you very much, these bitters are really special.
From what I have seen most people like to add these smoked chili bitters to a margarita. I can see how the bitters would be great that way. But I wanted to do something different. I think the smoked chili flavor is definitely on the savory side. Adding a few drops to a dirty martini was a no brainer. The flavors of smoked chili sits there as a glorious finish in every sip.
I used Spring44’s vodka as the vodka in this martini. If you have been reading my posts you already know I’m a great fan of the distillery that I discovered in my travels to Loveland Colorado. Their vodka is very smooth and is the perfect base for this martini. It’s that pure Rocky Mountain water that comes from their own spring high up in the mountains.
Bitters are really there just to heighten the other flavors that have been brought to the party in any cocktail. Just a few dashes from the little bottle give just the hint of smoked chili and spice. The point was not to make this martini into a glass of heat, rather heighten the savory and slight spiciness of the olives in a dirty martini. Hella Bitters makes several bitters, and at some point, I’d like to try the rest of them. They can be found on Amazon or through them on their website. The Smoked Chili Bitters were the perfect gift for me as I love smoked chilis in many things and now I can add a dirty martini to the list!
- 3 oz vodka or gin
- ½ oz olive brine from the jar or Dirty Sue olive juice
- ½ oz dry vermouth
- 6 dashes Smoked Chili Hella Bitters
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Chill a martini glass in the fridge or freezer, or fill with crushed ice to chill quickly.
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To a cocktail shaker add the vodka or gin, the olive brine, and the vermouth
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Do six dashes or shakes of the Smoked Chili Bitters into the cocktail shaker.
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Fill the shaker with ice.
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Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for a minute or so or until the shaker is very cold.
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Pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with olives and a pepper if desired.
If you can find Dirty Sue Olive juice it will taste better in your dirty martini than using the brine from the olive jar.
