Dirty Martini Cocktail Recipe (Easy!)

Classic and sophisticated with a savory edge, the Dirty Martini is a true standard to have in your cocktail library. Try this easy recipe.

Say hello to our first cocktail of the year! A crisp, classic Martini is the perfect January (or, let’s be real, year-round) cocktail.

A Martini is possibly one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous cocktails for good reason. Its simple ingredients make a perfect base for trying lots of variations and substitutions, meaning that there are hundreds of different of takes on the Martini!

While we’re creating a savory vodka Martini, it’s likely that the Martini’s original iteration had a gin base and skewed more sweet.

It was only once bartenders started experimenting with dry vermouth and vodka that this classic was born.

And today, we’re even adding an extra facet: some salty olive brine to turn this Vodka Martini into a Dirty Martini.

Psst — before you dive into the recipe, be sure to sign up below for my VIP group. I send these folks more of my very best cocktails, recipes, and ideas!

Sophisticated Cocktails to Try

If you’re here for the Martini, then my guess is that you’re up for some other deliciously sophisticated cocktail recipes too!

I took a moment to round up some of my favorites, which I think are natural extensions of the Dirty Martini.

Be sure to pin or bookmark your favorites so that you can find them again easily.

• Boulevardier Cocktail Recipe
• Whiskey Sour Egg White Cocktail
• Sidecar Cocktail Recipe
• Negroni Cocktail Recipe
• White Negroni Cocktail
• French Gimlet Cocktail Recipe
• Paloma Cocktail Recipe

What Makes a Martini Dirty?

What turns a Martini into a Dirty Martini?

Olive brine! Salty, savory olive brine is the delicious addition that defines a Martini as “dirty.”

In fact, if you’re someone who likes an extreme amount of olive brine (perhaps an ounce or more), you can probably start calling your Martinis “filthy.”

I like about a half ounce of olive brine in a Dirty Martini, but you can experiment with ratios and your own taste.

More Martini Variations

The Martini is a great cocktail to play with while you figure out your preferences!

If you aren’t a vodka fan, try making a Gin Martini. Instead of olive brine and olives for garnish, add a twist of lemon peel. This is a fresh, citrusy take on our more savory recipe.

And if you find that the olive brine isn’t for you, simply omit it to create a classic Martini.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Check your home bar supplies because you might already have everything you need!

Vodka. For this particular cocktail, because the vodka is the star and there are very few mixers, I recommend staying away from a cheap or well vodka. Something mid-range or higher will produce a more drinkable cocktail.

Dry Vermouth. We’ve used sweet vermouth before but make sure you use dry vermouth for a Dirty Martini.

Olive Brine. In a pinch, you can absolutely use the brine in your jar of cocktail olives! But if you plan to make plenty of these cocktails I’d recommend something like this.

Olives. If you have a favorite brined olive, use that! Otherwise, these are a classic choice.

How to Make a Dirty Martini Cocktail

Despite James Bond’s proclivity to have his Martini cocktails “shaken, not stirred,” a die-hard bartender might tell you to stir the drink.

This is for two reasons. Firstly, there’s the idea that you can “bruise” the spirits in the cocktail, meaning you over-dilute them with water when you shake too vigorously with ice.

Secondly, some folks prefer a perfectly clear martini, with no ice shards in it from the shaking.

My personal preference is a super-chilled, icy cocktail — so I shake mine. But definitely experiment with yours and see which way you prefer.

1. In a shaker with ice, combine 2 1/2 oz of vodka, 1/2 oz of dry vermouth, and 1/2 oz of olive brine.
2. Shake gently until chilled.
3. Strain into a martini glass.
4. Add 1-2 olives for a garnish.

Enjoy! xoxo