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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you chill a glass quickly?

If you don’t have time to chill your glass, simply fill the empty glass with ice and allow the glass to chill while you make your drink. Pour out the ice and add your cocktail when ready!

What’s the difference between a shaken and stirred martini?

While James Bond prefers his martini shaken not stirred, the main difference between the methods is that shaking the martini will add a few tiny ice chips to your drink. So if you don’t want it watered down at all, try stirring the drink instead of shaking before pouring into your glass.

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Yield 1 drink

Prep 5 minutes

Total 5 minutes

Instructions

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!

Notes

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.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Dirty Martini

Amount per Serving

% Daily Value*

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Dirty Martini – A Beautiful Mess