This Dirty Martini, cold, delicious and refreshing, is going to be your new favorite cocktail. Our recipe has the perfect ratio of ingredients. The dirtier the better!
This Dirty Martini recipe is one of my very favorite cocktails. A fun little fact, a restaurant once tweeted at us that they used this recipe. They loved it so much that it became a regular feature on their menu.
A dirty martini is a regular martini that is made “dirty” with the addition of olive brine. While most dirty martini recipes call for a splash of olive brine and some dry vermouth, we opt to take out the dry vermouth and add in more brine. The result is a very cold and flavorful cocktail that olive lovers will fall head over heels for.
I used Kettle One and Mezzetta Spanish Queens! Perfection!! Though I must admit, I enhanced, ever so slightly! I used two ounces of olive brine and threw Four olives in! Although your right, it MUST be ICE COLD!! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!!
How to Make a Dirty Martini
This is a brief overview of how to make this delicious cocktail. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Chill your martini glass. Read up on how to do this below.
- Grab some quality vodka. Because this is the primary ingredient, we want to start with something really delicious. Read more on this below.
- Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. I like to use a metal shaker because then you can feel when you have shaken it enough, the shaker will be cold in your hand.
- Strain and serve. Strain the dirty martini into the chilled glasses and add the olive garnish.
Olive Juice for a Dirty Martini
Olive brine, or olive juice, is the liquid that olives sit in. You can buy a bottle of something marked “olive brine” in many liquor stores. However, my experience has been that it is really watery and doesn’t give you the same olive punch of flavor that you get from the brine in a jar of olives.
To cut cost on this cocktail, buy a jar of green olive pieces and use that olive juice. It will have the same taste but be cheaper than a jar of whole green olives.
Shaken or Stirred
You will notice in the instructions of this recipe that we are shaking it up in a cocktail shaker. I think it is the best way to get it ice cold. The downside to this method is that you can occasionally end up with small ice pieces in your martini.
To avoid the small ice pieces you can, of course, stir your martini. Add all of the ingredients and ice to a mixing glass. Stir it up with a bar spoon and then strain it into the martini glass.
Vodka for Dirty Martini Recipe
As mentioned above, we want to go with a high quality vodka for this classic cocktail since it is the base of the recipe. I would recommend going with Grey Goose or Belvedere. They are top notch and so smooth in this martini.
If you are working on a budget, grab a bottle of Titos. You can also go with Costco’s brand of Kirkland Vodka. Both of these give you great taste for the cost.
Chilled Martini Glass
A perfect dirty martini recipe is one that is ice cold. To that end, we are going to chill the martini glass before we start the recipe. You will want to add some ice to the glass, and then fill it with cold water. Put it in the refrigerator (or freezer) for about 10 minutes. Empty the glass before straining your martini into it.
Vermouth
As mentioned above, I didn’t include vermouth in this recipe. In taste testing and developing this recipe, I discovered that I like this recipe so much more without the Vermouth. Give it a try, I think you’ll agree!
There is a note in the recipe about vermouth. If you do like it, add between a splash and 1/4 of an ounce.
Type of Olives
You only want to use green olives and green olive brine for your dirty martini recipe. I have had restaurants experiment with kalamata brine and black olive brine, and that is something we do not recommend.
Other Classic Cocktails
If having this dirty martini recipe makes you want to have all the classic cocktails, then you have come to the right place!
If you make this vodka dirty martini or any of my other cocktails, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Dirty Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ounces quality vodka
- 1 1/2 ounces olive juice (sse note)
- olives for garnish
Instructions
- Combine vodka and olive juice in a martini shaker. Stir with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with olives.
Notes
did you make this
Dirty Martini Recipe
Jill says
Hi! Do you recommend dirty Sue olive brine?
I can’t say I’ve had it. I will say that all of the olive brines I have purchased that are made for cocktails was too bland for me. I highly recommend the brine from a jar of green olives.
Liv says
I add tabasco and extra brine and the driest of vermouth… and I always make it a double. Shake with ice and line the maetini glass rim with chili salt … extra skewered blue cheese and garlic stuffed olives! It’s my extra hot and dirty and they are always a hit
Suse says
This was awesome! Loved it with just olive juice. If I ever order one from a bar I will specify this. I used Luksusowa vodka, and even added a bit more olive juice than called for. I just used the olive juice from my jar of green pimento stuffed olives. I am a savory food lover, green olive lover, and definitely do not like sweet drinks. This hit the spot.
I’m so happy to hear that!
Adele says
Just made it, added the splash of vermouth, a dash of bitters..I’m in love!
I’m so glad you liked it!
Marcella says
My favorite, no carb, drink! Personally, I like a splash of vermouth in my dirty martini. No more than that. But I’ll try it without… let ya know!
EB says
This is how I make my dirty martinis- no vermouth just vodka and olive brine! My favorite vodka to use for martinis s Beluga Noble Vodka- it makes an amazing martini especially along with raw oysters or other seafood…a perfect compliment to them! Haku Japanese vodka also makes an interesting clean, crisp martini. It is made from rice. There is a greek vodka made from olives that is supposed to be fantastic for martinis but I haven’t been able to find it near me yet. And my most favorite olives- the olives stuffed with baby gherkins. THE best for martinis!!
I’ll have to try those!!
Britney Jones says
A-freaking-mazing! I felt like I was in a James Bond movie when I was making this! Thanks for sharing!
Dee says
Be SURE the Quality of the Olives is Great Too. If the juice from the Olives are bad the drink will be too. Trust me.
marilyn fitzgerald says
I only had pickled okra (thanks to my friend the “Happy Pickler”) on hand so I used that brine and tossed in a small pickled okra and a lemon twist. Delicious!
That sounds amazing!
xander says
Exactly the way I enjoy my Martini. I have been experimenting with different brands of olive juice and so far have found them all to be pungent, way too salty and overall adding an undesirable flavor to the Martini. As far as olives are concerned have tried garlic stuffed and will never use again, the garlic overpowered the drink. Enjoy pimento stuffed, and have tried olives with vermouth brine (decent, but not better than pimento). Next up are anchovy stuffed, and blue cheese stuffed olives. Hoping to find that magical balance of that “dirty” flavor competing with the sharp vodka bite.