Dirty martini
Gin, a little vermouth and olive brine, stirred ice cold. Salty, savoury and clean.
- Time
- 4 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Martini glass
- Strength
- 2.6 UK units
How to make a dirty martini
- Chill the glass. Fill a martini glass with ice and cold water and leave it for a few minutes. Tip it away just before you pour.
- Build in a mixing glass. Pour the gin, vermouth and olive brine into a mixing glass and fill it with ice.
- Stir until very cold. Stir for about 30 seconds. The glass should be frosted on the outside and the drink should still look clear, not cloudy.
- Strain and garnish. Strain into the chilled glass and add the olives on a pick. Drink it quickly while it is cold.
- Glass
- Martini glassNo martini glass? A coupe or a small wine glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Three green olives on a pickOr: A twist of lemon peel.
What you need to make a dirty martini
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Mixing glassAny sturdy jug or pint glass works.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Bottles we'd use
- Dry vermouthNoilly Prat or Dolin Dry both keep a clean, herbal edge. Keep it in the fridge.Find it on Amazon
- Green olivesPitted Manzanilla olives in brine give good flavour and a clean brine.Find it on Amazon
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The dirty martini story
Olives have been dropped into martinis for well over a century. The brine came later and nobody can say who first poured it in. It is the savoury end of the martini family, and it divides drinkers more than any other version.
It works best with a gin that can stand up to the salt, and with brine that tastes good on its own. Start with 10 ml, taste, then add more if you want it dirtier. The recipe also works with vodka, which gives a smoother, blunter drink.
Dirty martini: your questions answered
What is in a dirty martini?
A dirty martini is made with 60 ml London dry gin, 10 ml dry vermouth and 10 ml olive brine. Garnish: three green olives on a pick.
Is a dirty martini shaken or stirred?
A dirty martini is stirred, not shaken. Stirring with ice chills and dilutes it while keeping the drink clear and smooth. Shaking would cloud it and add tiny air bubbles, which suits citrus drinks but not this one.
How strong is a dirty martini?
Made to this recipe, a dirty martini contains about 2.6 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a dirty martini in?
Serve a dirty martini in a martini glass. No martini glass? A coupe or a small wine glass.
