I love a good Dirty Martini
This classic cocktail is the perfect drink before dinner or out sipping with friends at a cocktail party. If done right this delicious libation should just have the right hint of olives. The dirty martini should taste slightly savory and salty from the brine, but not overpowering. The problem is everyone seems to have a different preference as to what the right amount of brine and vermouth is.
I’ve had martinis that taste like they have put half the jar of olive brine. On the other side, I’ve had a “dirty martini” that tastes like they just waved the olives over the glass. Though most of you know I enjoy Gin in many of my cocktails, I think vodka is a better choice for a dirty martini. Gin brings extra flavors to the cocktail that sometimes fight with the olives. Vermouth is also a factor, some people make them with just vodka and olive brine. I think vermouth is essential in a dirty martini for balance with the olive brine. To make it at home, of course, you can vary the vermouth and the olive brine to your taste.
The olives are yet another factor. The whole point of a dirty martini is the olives. Finding good olives can be an adventure in itself. There are many bad ones out there. So be picky, with a little effort you can find great ones. The best ones I’ve found should be tasty morsels not too firm or too soft. If you want some extra flavor, you can find delicious olives stuffed with blue cheese, almonds, feta cheese, or if you want a bit of zip in your cocktail you can use jalapeño stuffed ones. All of those are fantastic choices. But be careful that the jars of stuffed olives use olive brine and not olive oil. If they have olive oil, you need to use olive brine from somewhere else and wipe off the olives before placing them into the martini glass. There will be a hint of the oil floating on the top of the finished cocktail. A little doesn’t bother me if they are incredible olives.
I think I’ve figured out the best balance for a dirty martini that I’m happy with. Though I just came across a recipe for muddling some olives in the cocktail shaker first, and that intrigues me! All you kneed is something to nosh like my Gougères or Korean BBQ snack mix. Let me know what you do when you make a dirty martini in the comments below.
This classic cocktail is the perfect drink before dinner or out sipping with friends at a cocktail party. If done right this delicious libation should just have the right hint of olives.
- Ice cubes
- ½ oz olive brine
- ½ oz dry vermouth
- 3 oz clean tasting vodka or gin such as Spring44, Grey Goose,
- 3 olives pimento, almond, or blue cheese stuffed.
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Chill a martini glass in the fridge to get very cold. Or if you are in a hurry, fill the martini glass with ice and water, let sit for a few minutes then pour out the ice and water.
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In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour in the olive brine, dry vermouth, and the vodka or gin. Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously until very cold.
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Strain the martini into the chilled martini glass.
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Garnish with 3 olives.
