The martini is one of the most hallowed classic cocktails, and knowing how to order one correctly is a vital skill whether you make it with gin or you prefer its cousin, the vodka martini. Of the many types of martinis out there, one of the most popular and enduring variations is the dirty martini, where you add a splash of olive brine to the drink to add some salty, dirty flavors.
Sure, it’s not the classic way to drink a martini, but there are no rules here, and you can add whatever you like to your drinks. There’s even a trend for adding olive ice cubes to a dirty martini, which is sacrilegious to some but appealing to many drinkers.
If you enjoy classic martinis, the time is right to try its dirty, murky, salty sibling. Whip one up and you might never go back to the original. Just make sure you have good gin (preferably London dry gin), great dry vermouth, and real olive brine. No need to buy a fancy specialty bottle. Simply crack open a bottle of olives and pour in the juice before you toss the olives in.
How to make a dirty martini
What you need to make the dirty martini
- 2 1/2 ounces of London dry gin
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce of olive brine
- 3-5 olives
The dirty martini recipe steps
- Add gin, vermouth, and olive brine to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously to combine everything.
- Strain everything into a chilled Martini or cocktail glass.
- Add a skewer (or simply toss in) 3-5 olives as a garnish.
- Drink it slowly and enjoy the herbal, sweet, salty, briny goodness.
A murky history
If you enjoy a classic gin Martini, that’s all well and good. There’s nothing wrong with paying tribute to (and sipping) the classics. But, if you want to get a little wacky (and briny) with it, you’ll try a dirty martini.
Like many classic cocktails, the Martini has a bit of a muddled or murky history. Some believe it was created at New York’s Knickerbocker Hotel by a bartender aptly named Martini di Arma di Taggia for Billionaire and Standard Oil Company co-founder John D. Rockefeller. However, this is disputed as recipes for the drink were included in Jerry Thomas’ Bartenders’ Guide in the 1860s.
Many believe that a New York-based bartender named John O’Conner created the dirty martini in 1901 when he decided to not only muddle olives but add olive brine to the drink. The classic recipe consists of gin, vermouth, olive brine, and 3-5 olives. Also, while shaking a classic martini is a big no-no, it’s encouraged when making a dirty martini to meld the various flavors together perfectly.
Is a dirty martini made with gin or vodka?
The classic dirty martini is made with gin, not vodka, but like its not-dirty cousin, the martini; there does exist a vodka version as well. Most martini enthusiasts will tell you that gin and vermouth are a more complex and interesting combination than vodka and vermouth, and that applies to the dirty martini, too. The briney olive flavors tend to bring out the savory, herbal, or vegetal notes in a gin very nicely.
However, if you prefer a vodka martini, then there’s no reason not to make that dirty as well. You can add a swirl of brine into your vodka drink to make it more salty and savory, if you prefer it that way.
What does a martini taste like?
Unlike some overly complicated, ingredient-filled cocktails, the traditional Martini is fairly simple. With only two ingredients, the main flavor is that of the gin. Herbal, spicy, piney, and whatever herbs and botanicals are infused into it.
The vermouth adds a sweet, fortified wine flavor to the drink. This makes it partly spiced and partly sweet. The addition of a lemon twist adds a citrus element or an olive adds a nice salty, savory note. If salt and brine are what you’re after though, you’d probably prefer the dirty martini instead.
