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Dirty Martini Recipe

4.97 from 61 votes
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posted: 04/22/22

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

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

straight on view of a frosted martini glass with a dirty martini in it, garnished with three olives

This Dirty Martini recipe is one of my very favorite cocktails. 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 cocktail that olive lovers will fall head over heels for.

dirty martini recipe being poured through a strainer into a martini glasss with another martini in the background and a gold cocktail shaker

How to Make a Dirty Martini

Start with quality vodka.  Since the majority of this cocktail 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 cocktail, buy a jar of green olive pieces and use that brine. It will have the same taste but be cheaper.

overhead view of two martini glasses filled with vodka martini dirty with three olives in each glass

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.

a martini glass full of vodka martini dirty, jar of olives in the background, and strainer next to it

Other Classic Cocktails

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

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

straight on view of a frosted martini glass with a dirty martini in it, garnished with three olives
4.97 from 61 votes

Dirty Martini Recipe

Serves: 1 cocktail
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 2 minutes
Total: 2 minutes
This Dirty Martini, cold, delicious and refreshing, is going to be your new favorite cocktail. With the right ingredients, it couldn't be more simple to make. The dirtier the better!

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: cocktails
Cuisine: American
straight on view of a frosted martini glass with a dirty martini in it, garnished with three olives

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Dirty Martini Recipe

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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.

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  1. Kimberley Simpkins says

    4 stars
    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.

  2. Danny B says

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

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  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?

    • 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.

  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!

    • Lisa Longley says

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

  5. Kari Hayes says

    5 stars
    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!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m glad you enjoyed them, Kari!

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