Name: Dirty Martini
Prep time: PT3 MinM
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients: 2.5 oz Gin; 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth; 0.5 oz Olive Brine; 3 Green Olives, for garnish

Everything You Need to Know About the Dirty Martini

Salty, savory and spirit-forward, the Dirty Martini adds olive brine to the classic combination of gin and dry vermouth. The cocktail's origins have been traced to New York bartender John E. O'Connor, who reportedly served a Martini with muddled olives at the Waldorf Astoria in 1901, while recipes using olive brine appeared in the decades that followed. Today, the Dirty Martini is one of the most popular variations on the classic Martini, with the brine adding salinity and a savory character that complements the gin's botanical flavors. Vodka is also a popular alternative for those who prefer a cleaner, more neutral base.

Dirty Martini

Prep Time3 Min

Yield1 Cocktail

Base SpiritGin

Ingredients

2.5 oz Gin
0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
0.5 oz Olive Brine
3 Green Olives, for garnish

Getting Dirty Has Never Been Easier With A Dirty Martini

Instructions

Add the gin, dry vermouth and olive brine to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake until well chilled.
Strain into a chilled Martini glass.
Garnish with three green olives.

Pro Tip

The olive brine is every bit as important as the gin and vermouth. Use brine from good-quality olives and adjust the amount to taste. For an Extra Dirty Martini, increase the brine for an even saltier, more savory drink.

Dirty Martini Riff

For a Vodka Dirty Martini, simply replace the gin with vodka. The more neutral spirit allows the olive brine to take center stage, producing a cleaner, less botanical version of the cocktail.

Getting Dirty Has Never Been Easier With A Dirty Martini

Everything You Need to Know About the Dirty Martini