The Dirty Martini

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/5/24
Tested by
Tom Macy
Photo of Tom Macy
Tested by Tom Macy
Tom wears many cocktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive cocktail nerd."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The dirty martini has a pleasant saltiness that is fascinating against the gin and dry vermouth background. "Dirty" simply refers to the addition of olive juice or brine. It's a classic cocktail that is very easy to mix up and one of the most popular variations on the original gin martini.

You can make this drink as dirty as you like by pouring the olive juice to suit your taste. It may take a few rounds to find a perfect balance for you, but the experiments are fun. As you explore different brands of gin, you will want to make adjustments as well.

The key to making a great dirty martini is to use high-end gin (or vodka, if you prefer) and vermouth and to add just enough olive juice to lightly flavor it. It's very easy to make the cocktail too dirty, so take it easy at first.

A dirty martini garnished with three green olives

The Spruce Eats / Margot Cavin
What You'll Need To Make This Dirty Martini Recipe
A Cocktail Jigger
A Bar Spoon
A Sophisticated Martini Glass

"It's smart to measure the olive brine to test where your preference lies. Half an ounce, I think, is the sweet spot. But I've encountered plenty who prefer 3/4 ounce in their "filthy” martinis. Also, feel free to use less vermouth or nix it altogether for an unadulterated dirty martini experience." —Tom Macy

The dirty martini in a glass with olive
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 ounces gin or vodka

  • 1/2 ounce dry vermouth

  • 1/4 to 1/2 ounce olive juice or brine, to taste

  • 1 or 3 olives, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Dirty martini ingredients gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the gin, dry vermouth, and olive juice.

    Ice, gin, dry vermouth, and olive juice in a glass for dirty martini

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Stir well for at least 30 seconds.

    Ice, gin, dry vermouth, and olive juice stirred together in a glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Dirty martini ingredients strained into a martini glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Garnish with 1 or 3 olives. Serve and enjoy.

    Dirty martini cocktail in a glass garnished with olives

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • It's said that an even number of olives is bad luck, though this could just be an old bar tale.
  • As with any of the basic martinis, adjust the gin-vermouth ratio to your liking. You can also shake the drink if you prefer.
  • Keep olives refrigerated. It's a common mistake in bars: Some bartenders make a dirty martini using warm juice from the garnish tray. It's a bad habit that's also unsanitary. Luckily, many have changed their ways and are either refrigerating separate brine for martinis or using bottled olive juice.

What's the Difference Between Olive Brine and Olive Juice?

In the cocktail world, olive juice and brine tend to mean the same thing, but there is a difference. Olives produce juice, which is pressed out of the fruit to make products like olive oil and the brine (salted water) for cured olives. 

Many people prefer to use the brine that is in a jar of olives for dirty martinis. And why not? If you have olives, you have salty juice right there. It is a very convenient and cheap addition to the drink. Plus, with all the gourmet olives available—stuffed with everything from the standard pimento to blue cheese or jalapeño—each brine brings a slightly different taste to the martini.

There are also many olive juices available that are designed specifically for the dirty martini. They can vary quite a bit in taste, though they're interesting to explore. 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 cocktail-worthy olive juices from Boscoli, Fee Brothers, Filthy, Fragata, or Stirrings.

Recipe Variations

  • Some bartenders suggest using a few dashes of extra-virgin olive oil instead of brine. It adds just a hint of olive flavor beyond what the garnish can deliver. Just be sure it is only 1 or 2 dashes, or you will create an oil slick in your glass.
  • Filthy Martini: Replace the olive brine and garnish with caperberries (larger than capers) and the brine they're packaged in. Some recipes use up to 1 ounce of caper brine.
  • Dirty Gibson: Dirty martini meets Gibson cocktail; swap out the olive brine and garnish for cocktail onions and brine. The pickled onion provides a slight umami undertone.

Make Your Own Olive Brine

If your local market has an olive bar filled with gourmet olives, use them to make olive brine. It is effortless and allows you to customize the selection of olives, even adding a variety to a single jar.

The best part is that you are in control of the juice and can formulate it to suit your taste perfectly. This simple DIY project can save the die-hard dirty martini drinker a considerable amount of money. As a bonus, you also get a custom choice of olives for garnishing all of your martinis.

To make a basic brine, you will need 2 cups of green olives, 2 cups water, 1/2 cup dry vermouth, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 tablespoons salt. Any of these can be adjusted to taste as you perfect your recipe.

  1. Place the olives in a glass jar with a tight-sealing lid. Recycled olive jars are a natural choice, and Mason jars work great as well.

  2. Gently press the olives with the back of a wooden spoon firmly enough to release their juice. Try not to smash them as if you're muddling fruit for a cocktail.

  3. In a bowl, combine the other ingredients and mix well.

  4. Pour the liquid over the olives until they are completely covered. Leave a little room for air at the top of the jar.

  5. Seal the jar and shake it vigorously.

  6. Refrigerate for at least one day (longer is better) and shake before using the juice.

If your juice gets a little low for the olives left in the jar, add more vermouth and give the mix a good shake.

How Strong Is the Dirty Martini?

Martinis are not weak drinks and that is why they're served between 3 to 4 ounces per serving. With an 80-proof gin and the average vermouth, this dirty martini recipe is a heavyweight. Its alcohol content is around 29 percent ABV (58 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
213 Calories
2g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 213
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 552mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 19mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)