Last Updated:
This is a dirty flex on the classic Vodka Martini recipe, in which we add the brine from the green olive garnish to give the drink an extra, savoury dimension.
From experience, this is one people either love or hate, but it’s always an experience.
Let’s take a closer look at the drink, or just jump straight to the recipe.
What ingredients do you need to make a Dirty Martini?
You make a Dirty Martini by combining:
- Gin or Vodka
- Vermouth
- Green Olive Brine.
Gin
Gin is a distilled alcohol drink made from Juniper Berries and is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world.
It’s popularity is growing year on year, with sales in the UK rising beyond £3 billion per year.
For Gin, we recommend:
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Vodka
We compared 12 different brands of Vodka and determined that Smirnoff was the overall best option. Given the current climate with Russia, that may seem like a questionable choice, but Smirnoff isn’t made in Russia, it’s made all over the world.
It actually has a history of Russian persecution and the creators were forced to flee Russia.
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Vermouth
Vermouth is an aromatic fortified wine that’s flavoured with various botanicals and is sometimes coloured.
Traditionally, Vermouth was used for medicinal purposes (we’ve heard that one before, am I right guys?) but was later served as an aperitif in fashionable Turin cafes in the mid to late 18th century.
By the 19th century, it’d become popular with bartenders in the creation of fancy cocktails such as the Martini, the Manhattan, the Rob Roy, and the Negroni.
What Equipment do you need to make a Dirty Martini?
To make a Dirty Martini, you need the following equipment…
Jigger
It’s important to get the mix of any cocktail right. The measurements are set for a reason – to specify a tried, tested, and tasty drink.
A jigger is going to help you get those perfect measurements – after all, it is what the pro’s use.
For a jigger, we recommend:
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Mixing Glass
If you have a cocktail recipe that calls for the mix to be stirred, rather than shaken, then a Mixing Glass is the way to go.
Why? Because it’s easier to stir and pour the mix, by design. Also, it’s cooler.
For a Mixing Glass, we recommend:
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Bar Spoon
Bar Spoons are great for cocktails you’re suppose to stir, rather than shake in a cocktail shaker.
Sure, you can probably use any spoon to stir your drink but these bar spoons are the real deal. It’s the proper equipment to get the job right.
- They’re long enough to get to the bottom of any cocktail to allow you to properly stir.
- They have a twist spiral design that allows for a better grip.
- They’re made out of stainless steel, so they’re durable, corrosion resistant, and easy to clean.
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Hawthorne Strainer
If you (or perhaps the person your buying for) don’t have a Hawthorne strainer as part of a cocktail shaker set, it’s a great, and incredibly useful, cocktail gift you need in your cocktail toolbox.
The strainer is typically used to remove the ice (or any other unwanted solid ingredients) from your cocktail as it’s poured from the cocktail shaker into your glass.
For a Hawthorne Strainer, we recommend:
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Martini Glass
This cocktail recipe tastes great, but let’s make it look great too.
Having the right glass for the right cocktail always makes the experience more enjoyable in my experience.
And the right glass is a cocktail glass.
We recommend:
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Dirty Martini Recipe
Now let’s dive into the recipe…
Recipe card
Dirty Martini
Ingredients
Makes 1 drink.
Method
- Add Ice, Gin, Vermouth, and Olive Brine (or Olive Juice) to a mixing glass
- Stir well with a bar spoon
- Use an Hawthorne Strainer to Strain into a chilled Martini Glass
- Garnish with 3 Green Olives.
