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–+ servings
A dry dirty martini.

Dry Dirty Martini (A Classic Cocktail With a Twist)

Allie Hagerty
An icy-cold Dry Dirty Martini made with vodka, olive brine, and blue cheese–stuffed olives. Smooth, briny, and bar-quality, shaken hard for the perfect finish.
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Prep Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute
Course Drinks
Servings 1 cocktail

Equipment

  • Cocktail shaker or mixing glass
  • Bar spoon
  • jigger
  • Fine strainer (optional)
  • Chilled coupe or martini glass
  • Cocktail pick

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ ounces vodka or gin, if you’re a purist
  • 1 ounce olive brine or up to 1 ¼ ounces if you’re feeling bold
  • 3 Castelvetrano or blue cheese-stuffed olives plus extra brine if desired
  • Ice

Instructions
 

  • Chill your glass in the freezer or with ice water—this drink deserves a frosty vessel.
  • Pour 2 ½ ounces of vodka and 1 full ounce of olive brine into your shaker or mixing glass.
  • Add ice—lots of it—and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds for a super cold, slightly cloudy finish.
  • Strain into your chilled glass.
  • Garnish with 2 or 3 olives—Castelvetrano for buttery and lush, blue cheese-stuffed if you’re in a truly salty mood.

Notes

Expert Tips from My Kitchen

  • Always start with a chilled glass for the coldest martini.
  • Shake hard and fast. This ensures the cloudy, icy finish that makes it feel bar-quality.
  • Use fresh ice, not the watery cubes that have been sitting in your freezer too long.
  • Stick to good-quality olive brine (from Castelvetrano or blue cheese–stuffed jars), not generic bottled brine.
  • Taste before straining. If you want it saltier, add a splash more brine.

Serving Suggestions

  • Swap vodka for gin if you want a more traditional, botanical finish.
  • Try different olives: Castelvetrano for buttery, Kalamata for punchy, or blue cheese–stuffed for a rich, salty bite.
  • Garnish with a lemon twist alongside the olives for a brighter edge.

Storage Instructions

  • Best enjoyed immediately. Martinis don’t hold well once diluted.
  • If batching, combine vodka and brine ahead of time and chill in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Shake with ice just before serving.
  • Keep olives stored in their brine in the refrigerator; they’ll stay fresh for weeks.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1martiniCalories: 164kcalSodium: 1mgPotassium: 1mgIron: 0.01mg
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