Dirty Martini – A Beautiful Mess

There are few drinks more classic than a dirty martini. The simple combination of gin (or vodka!), dry vermouth, and olive brine packs a punch that’s been adorning cocktail tables for decades. And of course, don’t forget the olive garnish!

Whether you use vodka or gin, this easy to make drink is a top choice for the savory cocktail lover and we’ve got a video to show you exactly how to do it.

Related: Lychee Martini, Espresso Martini, Dry Martini, Chocolate Martini Recipe, Lemon Drop Martini, 12 Easy Martini Recipes

Do you use gin or vodka for a dirty martini?

While gin is more commonly used for a dirty martini, it’s up to your personal preference to use vodka or gin as your base. The more subtle flavors of a vodka-based version allows the olive brine to rise to the front over the gin’s stronger botanical flavor.

What makes a dirty martini dirty?

The difference between a regular martini and a dirty one is that the dirty version has olive brine from a jar of olives added to the drink for an extra punch and usually a skewer of cocktail olives for a garnish. You can even up the amount of brine to go from a dirty martini to an “extra dirty” or “filthy” version.

Ingredients

• Gin: Try out different gins to find your favorite for a dirty martini, some enjoy less juniper forward choices like Hendrick’s or Aviation over heavier flavors like Beefeater or Tanqueray.
• Dry Vermouth: You’ll want to choose a dry vermouth for a dirty martini. Just a splash of it adds a note of tartness to help balance out the gin or vodka taste.
• Olive Brine: The brine adds salt to the cocktail which enhances the flavors of the vermouth and the natural oils from the olives add a buttery mouth feel to the drink.
• Cocktail Olives: What’s a dirty martini without a garnish of cocktail olives? Add a few jumbo olives to a skewer and you’ll also have a little built in snack to nosh on while you drink.

A dirty martini is best served in a classic martini glass and you can also do a stemless version for a different look.

Directions

Add your gin (or vodka), dry vermouth, and olive brine to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Give the shaker a good shake for about 15 seconds and use a strainer to pour your drink into a chilled martini glass (if you don’t have a separate strainer you can just use the strainer top of the shaker).

Add a garnish of olives on a cocktail stick and your drink is ready to go!

Tips for Making a Dirty Martini

• Make sure your glass is chilled and your martini is ice cold! This is definitely a drink where temperature affects the taste, so go the extra mile to chill the glass to keep it cold.
• For extra olive flavor, you can muddle olives into the drink before straining, or add extra brine for a heavier olive taste.
• To make the perfect dirty martini for you, play around with the ratios of gin or vodka and vermouth until you find the sweet spot for your taste level.