Making the perfect dirty gin martini is super simple and only calls for a few ingredients. I'll be honest: I don't typically do classic martinis but this one hits every time! Let's get into the recipe plus my pro tips so you're guaranteed to get it exactly right.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my sour pickle juice martini, too!
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What is a dirty gin martini?
A dirty martini is a gin or vodka martini made with dry vermouth and olive brine, aka olive juice. And the olive brine is what makes it "dirty." Today, we're talking about the gin version.
Wondering what does a dirty gin martini taste like? You'll taste herbal and floral notes from the gin's botanical blend and the vermouth as well as a bit of sharpness and even bitterness. The olive brine adds salty and savory flavor.
❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick and Easy - Shaken or stirred, you only need five minutes to craft this extra dirty gin martini and no advanced bartending skills are needed.
Sophisticated Cocktail Vibes - The martini girls always seem like the coolest girls--I mean anybody who slurps down a savory drink with a straight face is on a different level. This dirty martini recipe is a martini lover's dream.
I'm kind of the martini queen around these parts: check out my creamy matchatini, ginger hibiscus martini, fresh watermelon martini, amaretto pistachio martini, and southern peach martini just to name a few.
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Gin, of course, since this is a gin martini, after all. As far as a good gin for dirty martini making, I prefer Still Austin American gin, Hendricks Scottish gin or Citadelle French gin but you can use your favorite kind.
Dry Vermouth to complement the gin. The best vermouth for a dirty gin martini is dry or extra dry vermouth, not sweet vermouth or vermouth bianco. The latter two have a completely different flavor and will drastically alter the look and taste of the drink.
Olives + Brine for extra savory, salty, and slightly bitter flavor notes. The brine also gives the cocktail a cloudy appearance.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Gin or Vodka - Yes, this is a gin drink but you can technically make a dirty martini with vodka, if that's more your speed. Is a dirty martini better with gin or vodka? Well, that's up to you!
With a Twist - Twist a strip of lemon, lime, or orange peel over top of your drink to add subtle citrus flavor and a colorful finish.
Garnishes - Use whichever olives you like best and add as many as you want. Blue cheese-stuffed olives, pickles, and charcuterie bits are all fair game for skewering and sticking in the glass.
How to Make a Dry Gin Martini at Home
- Step 1: Place your martini glass in the fridge or freezer to chill.
- Step 2: Thread a few olives through a cocktail pick and set aside.
Pro Tip #1
Don't skip chilling the martini glass. This step is key to achieving the frosted glass look that is part of the signature martini presentation. A chilled glass will also keep your drink colder for longer.
Pro Tip #2
If you don't have cocktail picks, you can use toothpicks in a pinch. Just note that you may not be able to fit as many olives on a toothpick.
- Step 3: Add the gin, vermouth, and olive brine to a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Step 4: Shake up the liquid to chill and mix it then strain into prepared martini glass.
- Step 5: Garnish then serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This actually makes a great freezer door cocktail--that is, a cocktail you can mix up and store in the freezer then grab as needed. Follow the batching instructions just below and pour the mixture into a mason jar then place in the freezer until you need it.
To batch dirty martinis for a crowd, shake up 10 ounces of gin, two ounces of dry vermouth, and two ounces of olive brine over ice then strain equally into four chilled martini glasses. Garnish with olives. Serves four.
Yes! To turn this drink for one into shots for friends, simply divide it evenly between three shot glasses and drop one olive into each glass.
How to Serve
This drink is best served ice cold in a chilled glass martini glass. Don't add any ice to the glass to avoid dilution, aka watering it down.
You can add as many olives or other garnishes as you like. If you're hosting, pair these martinis with a basic charcuterie board, praline baked brie, and creamy salmon pasta!
More Favorite Martini Recipes
Looking for other recipe like this? Try these:
I hope you'll enjoy this simple dirty gin martini recipe soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Perfect Dirty Gin Martini
Equipment
- 1 cocktail pick optional
- 1 jigger
Ingredients
- 4 green olives optional
- ice
- 2 ½ ounces gin
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- ½ ounce olive brine
Instructions
- Place martini glass into refrigerator or freezer to chill.
- Thread olives onto cocktail pick and set aside.4 green olives
- Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice then pour in gin, dry vermouth, and olive brine.ice, 2 ½ ounces gin, ½ ounce olive brine, ½ ounce dry vermouth
- Seal cocktail shaker and shake until chilled to the touch (about eight seconds) then strain into chilled martini glass.
- Add pick of olives to glass then serve immediately and enjoy responsibly!
Jeanine Mewszel says
I'm new to drinking dirty gin martinis, but I love them. This is my new drink that I'll be drinking much more of.
Jazzmine Woodard says
Thanks for your note, Jeanine. So glad you're enjoying this one!