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Vodka Dirty Martini Cocktail Recipe
ByJames
A dirty martini gets its name from the cloudy appearance created by olive brine. This savory twist on the classic vodka martini adds a salty, briny edge that olive lovers find irresistible. The key is finding the right balance between vodka, dry vermouth, and olive brine so the drink stays sophisticated rather than becoming an olive juice delivery system.
Vodka Dirty Martini Cocktail Recipe
Cuisine: USADifficulty: Easy
Servings
1
servingsPrep time
3
minutesCalories
188
kcal
Cook Mode
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
75 ml 2 1/2 fl oz vodka
15 ml 1/2 fl oz dry vermouth
15 ml 1/2 fl oz olive brine
Ice cubes
3 green olives (for garnish)
Equipment
Mixing glass
Bar spoon
Hawthorne strainer
Martini glass
Instructions
- Place your martini glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before making the drink. A properly chilled glass is essential for a good martini.
- Fill your mixing glass with ice cubes until it’s nearly full. The ice needs to be fresh and dry, not wet or partially melted.
- Pour the vodka, dry vermouth, and olive brine over the ice. The olive brine is what makes this martini dirty, giving it that characteristic cloudy appearance and salty flavor.
- Stir with a bar spoon for 30 to 40 seconds. Stirring, not shaking, keeps the drink silky and clear rather than cloudy and over-diluted. You’ll know it’s ready when the outside of the mixing glass feels ice cold.
- Strain the martini into your chilled glass using a Hawthorne strainer. The drink should be crystal clear with just a slight tint from the olive brine.
- Thread three olives onto a cocktail pick and place it across the rim of the glass or drop it directly into the drink.
Notes
- The amount of olive brine determines how dirty your martini is. This recipe uses half an ounce for a classic dirty martini. For an extra dirty version, increase to three-quarters of an ounce or even a full ounce, but be careful not to make it so briny that it tastes like drinking pickle juice.
