Dirty Martini Salad Dressing Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the formula for a dirty martini? ›

Dirty Martini

Calls for 3 ½ ounces gin or vodka, ½ ounce dry vermouth, and ½ ounce olive brine. Serve stirred, garnished with olives.

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.

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.

George Green Chile Vodka. “When I think Dirty Martini, I think savory,” says Phil Collins, beverage director for San Francisco-based restaurant group TableOne Hospitality. “I love bringing in more vegetal notes to really play up the salinity in the olive brine. My go-to has always been St George's Green Chile Vodka.”

The gin-to-vermouth ratio of a Dry Martini can fluctuate greatly based on individual preferences. However, as a rule of thumb, a 5:1 ratio of gin to vermouth is the standard for a Dry Martini.

4. 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… hungry?

At Fiorella, Marc Vetri's pasta restaurant in Philadelphia, the Dirty Pasta Water Martini has become a staple — the brine is made with a mixture that's equal parts olive brine and the salty, starchy water leftover from the pasta pot. The brine adds both flavor and a thicker body to the drink.

A Gibson is simply a Martini garnished with a co*cktail onion, rather than an olive or lemon twist. It will likely be made according to the same specs as a standard Martini, so if you'd like further tweaks, make sure to specify according to your preferred Martini ratios and style.

It may take some time to discover which bottled olive juice you like best, so keep trying. Dirty Sue is a favorite for many dirty martini devotees. You might also try the co*cktail-worthy olive juices from Boscoli, Fee Brothers, Filthy, Fragata, or Stirrings.

What kind of martini has no vermouth? ›

Desert Martini or a Churchill Martini

No vermouth is used. This is essentially straight gin diluted with ice and garnished with either a lemon twist or olives.

In the case of vermouth, whether dry or sweet, it's a fortified wine, so you need to replace it with another fortified wine. If you're out of dry vermouth and craving a Martini, try dry sherry, or Lillet Blanc. Cocchi Americano also works.

Dirty Martinis are often (but not always) made with vodka as the primary spirit, and shaken. A Dry Martini contains less dry vermouth than a standard Martini.

A dirty martini means that olive juice or olive brine is mixed in. This can be on its own, or in addition to “with a twist” for a lemon brine or “with an olive”. A clean martini refers to a martini served without a garnish.

A dirty martini is garnished with olives and includes olive juice. Select your blending process – Stirred, shaken or naked (unmixed) Choose your presentation – Straight up (mixed with ice but strained), neat (room temperature), on the rocks (poured over ice).

Directions: In a co*cktail shaker combine vodka, dry vermouth, olive juice, pepperoncini juice, and ice and shake until chilled. Pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with extra olives. Serve immediately.