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
Kimberley Simpkins says
There are Vermouth brined red pepper stuffed green olives by Pearl that make this recipe perfect! You still can use the brine from the less expensive green olives, but infuse 25% of the brine from the Pearl’s. Them add 1 or 2 to nibble on.
Danny B says
Truly a delightful dirty martini I agree with the no Vermouth and can’t wait to try the whiskey sour
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Michele Cades says
Can you tell me what brand Queen olives you get the brine from? To be sure, I don’t use the brine from the Mezzetta Martini olives in vermouth, right?
I believe I got Pearl Brand green olive pieces for the brine. But many different brands will work for this. I do not use green olives in Vermouth.
Sharon M says
Perfection! This is how I like my martinis and was always afraid of being judged for not adding vermouth. You gave me the exact recipe I wanted. And I can confidently ask my favorite bartender for 2 shots of vodka and a shot of olive “juice” for my martini!
I’m so glad you like it as much as I do!
Kari Hayes says
This was a surprisingly excellent recipe! I actually switched out the vodka for gin and, without thinking, I shook the shaker instead of stirring it, but the flavor was fantastic. I think I’ve been over-complicating my quest for a great Dirty Martini recipe. This one was simple, yet amazing. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Kari!
Ken says
Just made this with Akva vodka and pimento stuffed olives, but did the shaken, not stirred thing. Still really good. Thank you for the recipe!
I’m so glad you like it!
Katy says
Best dirty martini recipe I’ve tried! I tend to feel disappointed when I make them at home, but this one is perfect. Thanks for cracking the code for us!
I’m so glad you love it as much as I do!
Amanda Ivester says
So good! I love a strong martini without vermouth!
I’m so glad you liked it!
C says
I would never have believed that a dirty martini is better without vermouth, but you have completely changed my thinking. Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked it!
Sun says
I am excited to try this but I’m a perfectionist and want to get your opinion. Would you recommend the brine from Spanish Queens but the garnish being castelvetrano?
I love that you are putting so much thought into it! That being said, I’m not sure that I personally would be able to tell the difference.