Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (2024)

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4.97 from 61 votes

by Lisa Longley

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posted: 04/22/22

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Jump to Recipe

by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 04/22/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Jump to Recipe

This Dirty Martini, cold, delicious and refreshing, is going to be your new favorite co*cktail. Our recipe has the perfect ratio of ingredients. The dirtier the better!

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (2)
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

This Dirty Martini recipe is one of my very favorite co*cktails. 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.

Reader Review

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!!

What is a Dirty Martini?

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 little brine and some Vermouth, we opt to take out the Vermouth and add in more brine. The result is a very cold and flavorful co*cktail that olive lovers will fall head over heels for.

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (3)

How to Make a Dirty Martini

Start with quality vodka. Since the majority of this co*cktail is vodka, you want to buy a high quality brand that its going to go down smooth. Not sure what you like? Visit a distillery for taste testing! You will find an amazing bottle.

Add olive brine. This recipe calls for almost double the brine most other recipes call for. You all know how I love the taste of things that are pickled (looking at you Pickled Red Onions!). If that’s not your jam, cut the amount in half. See our pro tip below.

Combine the ingredients in a metal shaker with ice. Using a metal shaker will ensure that your ingredients get ice cold, and that is a key in this recipe.

Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with jumbo green olives.

Pro Tip for Olive Brine

To cut cost on this co*cktail, buy a jar of green olive pieces and use that brine. It will have the same taste but be cheaper.

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (4)

What About the 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 to 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.

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (5)

Other Classic co*cktails

If having this dirty martini recipe makes you want to have all the classic co*cktails, then you have come to the right place!

  • French 75
  • Gin Fizz
  • Amaretto Sour
  • Margarita
  • Whiskey Sour
  • Moscow Mule

If you make this vodka dirty martini or any of my other co*cktails, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (6)

4.97 from 61 votes

Dirty Martini Recipe

Serves: 1 co*cktail

(tap # to scale)

Prep: 2 minutes minutes

Total: 2 minutes minutes

This Dirty Martini, cold, delicious and refreshing, is going to be your new favorite co*cktail. With the right ingredients, it couldn't be more simple to make. The dirtier the better!

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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

This is just about the dirtiest martini you are going to find. If you aren’t sure about the olive juice, start with half the amount listed. If it isn’t dirty enough for you, add more. I LOVE it just as written.

Vermouth: You will notice that this recipe does not call for vermouth. If you want to try it with vermouth, add anywhere from a splash to 1/4 ounce for a single martini.

Serving: 1martini Calories: 228kcal (11%) Carbohydrates: 1g Fat: 4g (6%) Sodium: 547mg (24%) Potassium: 1mg Fiber: 1g (4%)

Author: Lisa Longley

Course: co*cktails

Cuisine: American

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (7)

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Dirty Martini Recipe

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

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Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (12)

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (13)

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Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (14)

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

  1. Kimberley Simpkins says

    Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (15)
    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.

    Reply

  2. Danny B says

    Truly a delightful dirty martini I agree with the no Vermouth and can’t wait to try the whiskey sour

    Reply

    • Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (16)Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  3. 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?

    Reply

    • Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (17)Lisa Longley says

      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.

      Reply

  4. 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!

    Reply

    • Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (18)Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you like it as much as I do!

      Reply

  5. Kari Hayes says

    Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (19)
    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!

    Reply

    • Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (20)Lisa Longley says

      I’m glad you enjoyed them, Kari!

      Reply

older comments

Easy and Delicious Dirty Martini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the formula for a dirty martini? ›

In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the gin, dry vermouth, and olive juice. Stir well for at least 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled co*cktail glass.

Why don't my dirty martinis taste good? ›

It's almost easier to make a bad dirty martini than it is to make a great one. Adding that touch of olive brine can make the co*cktail too salty or impart the stale, musty taste of olives bottled during the last century. Your dirty martini can also suffer from being the wrong temperature, too boozy, or out of balance.

What is the best vodka for a dirty martini? ›

"The minerality of Grey Goose lends itself perfectly to a dirty martini, which I make using a high-quality brine, like Dirty Sue, which was created by a bartender and formulated specifically for use in co*cktails.”

What is a filthy dirty martini? ›

August 16, 2018 / Anne Yee. A "Dirty Martini" is a vodka or gin martini that is made with a splash of olive juice. “Filthy” just means extra dirty implying lots of olive juice or extra strong juice.

What makes a martini more dirty? ›

The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of co*cktail olives, has been added to the drink. An olive garnish is typically assumed, too. Most bars add equal parts vermouth and brine, though you can specify 'extra dirty' or 'filthy' if you prefer more brine.

What is a clean dirty martini? ›

If you would prefer no garnish at all order your martini clean. A dirty martini is garnished with olives and includes olive juice.

How to make martinis taste good? ›

Perfect Martini

Calls for 2 ounces gin, 1 ounce dry vermouth, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, ½ ounce Luxardo maraschino liqueur, and 2 dashes Angostura Bitters. Serve with a lemon twist.

What does ordering a dirty martini say about you? ›

There is a fine line when it comes to brine, and this drink can go from delightful to disgusting really quickly. Customizable with gin or vodka, a touch of vermouth and defiled with olive juice, if you like your martini dirty, you're hip, swanky, stylish

What is a well mannered dirty martini? ›

The Well - Mannered Dirty #Martini: Our version of a “Dirty Martini” with Ketel One Vodka and blue cheese stuffed olives. The Cheesecake Factory. Libations & Thirst-Quenchers. Alcoholic Drinks.

What is an extra dirty martini called? ›

Ordering a Martini “Extra Dirty” or “Filthy” adjusts the co*cktail's recipe to include a higher ratio of salty olive brine in the drink. The Filthy Martini hones in on the olive brine's distinct taste in an otherwise Dirty Martini and turns it up to the max.

What can I use instead of dry vermouth in a dirty martini? ›

Dry Sherry is about as close as you can get [to vermouth],” Bezuidenhout says. Other fortified wines like Lillet blanc, Cocchi Americano, and even a white Port work as well.

Is Kirkland vodka really GREY goose? ›

You may have heard a rumor that the Kirkland Signature™ brand vodka sold at Costco is actually GREY GOOSE® Vodka, just in different packaging. We can definitively put this myth to rest. This viral claim is completely false, and GREY GOOSE® Vodka does not produce nor privately label Kirkland vodka.

Why do you put olives in martinis? ›

However, a new trend for savoury garnishes emerged in the 1880s, and bartenders were quick to embrace the olive. Why? Because the flavour highlights the aromatics in the gin, as well as complementing the vermouth and balancing the Martini's bracing intensity.

What type of bitters are used in a dirty martini? ›

Whether you like your Martini with Gin or Vodka, and dirty or down right filthy, Doc Elliott's Olive Bitters is the secret to making this Dirty Martini deliciously savory.

What is the formula for a martini? ›

Begin with a London dry-style gin. From there, add a little dry vermouth. The ratio is negotiable, but common formulas for a Dry Martini typically fall in the range of four-to-eight parts gin to one part vermouth. A dash of orange bitters ties the room together.

What is the best ratio for a martini? ›

How to make different styles of the Martini
  • Classic or Wet Martini. Calls for 3 ½ oz gin and ½ ounce dry vermouth. ...
  • Extra-Dry Martini. Calls for 3 ½ ounce gin or vodka, and dry vermouth and out. ...
  • Bone-Dry Martini. Calls for 3 ½ ounces gin or vodka, no vermouth. ...
  • Dirty Martini. ...
  • 50/50 Martini.
Apr 4, 2023

Is gin or vodka better for a dirty martini? ›

However, while many bartenders default to gin as the ideal option for a standard Martini, many find vodka to be the better choice for a Dirty Martini. This is because the spirit's more neutral profile allows the olive brine to shine more prominently, without getting muddled by gin's heavier botanicals.

What's the difference between a regular martini and a dirty martini? ›

A dry martini means that it is less sweet, containing less dry vermouth (which is called dry itself as it is less sweet than its red counterpart). A wet martini will have a higher amount of vermouth in the mix and a dirty martini means the addition of brine.

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