Professional photograph of a Dirty Martini cocktail with garnish in elegant bar setting

Cocktail

Dirty Martini

Le Dirty Martini est un cocktail élégant et savoureux, préparé à base de gin ou de vodka, mélangé avec un peu de vermouth sec et une touche de saumure d'olive. Ce mélange lui confère une saveur salée distinctive, souvent rehaussée par l'ajout d'olive pour la garniture. Idéal pour les amateurs de cocktails raffinés, le Dirty Martini est un incontournable des bars à cocktails.

  • salé
  • olive
  • sec
  • amer
Elena
By ElenaClassic Cocktails & Gin ExpertPublished Reviewed
Prep Time
5 min
Glass
Cocktail glass
Difficulty
Intermediate
ABV
30%
Yields
1 serving
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Peu de cocktails offrent un profil salé and olive aussi équilibré que le Dirty Martini. À base de vodka, il se prépare en 5 minutes. L'une des recettes les plus consultées : "cocktail".

Key Takeaways

What you’ll learn

  • The Dirty Martini emerged in the 1930s–1940s as a savory variation of the classic martini, now one of the most requested martini styles globally.
  • The classic recipe uses 0.5 oz olive brine, ranging from 0.25 oz (slightly dirty) to 1 oz (filthy) based on personal preference.
  • Quality olive brine is crucial — use brine from high-quality olives such as Castelvetrano, not mass-produced varieties with excessive vinegar.
  • Both gin and vodka work beautifully; gin adds botanical complexity while vodka provides a cleaner, more brine-forward canvas.
  • Proper stirring technique and premium olives elevate this cocktail from ordinary to exceptional.

Ingredients

Serves
1 serving
Glass
Cocktail glass
Prep
5 min
  • 70ml/2fl ozVodka
  • 1 tbspDry Vermouth
  • 2 tbspOlive Brine
  • 1 wedgeLemon
  • 1Olive

Method

Preparation

  1. 01

    Versez la vodka, le vermouth sec et la saumure d'olive dans un shaker à cocktail avec une poignée de glace et secouez bien.

  2. 02

    Frottez le bord d'un verre à martini avec le quartier de citron.

  3. 03

    Filtrez le contenu du shaker à cocktail dans le verre et ajoutez l'olive.

  4. 04

    Un dirty Martini contient un peu de saumure d'olive ou de jus d'olive et est généralement garni d'une olive.

Origin

History & Origins

The Dirty Martini's history is murky — appropriately enough for a drink defined by its cloudiness. The most widely accepted origin places its invention in the 1930s or 1940s, when a bartender (or possibly a customer) decided to add a splash of olive brine to their martini. Some accounts credit Franklin D. Roosevelt, who reportedly enjoyed dirty martinis in the White House. The drink remained relatively obscure until the 1990s and early 2000s, when it experienced a dramatic surge in popularity driven by its bold, unapologetic flavour profile.

The early 2000s saw the Dirty Martini become a symbol of sophisticated urban drinking, featured prominently in popular culture and ordered by Wall Street executives, fashion insiders, and cocktail enthusiasts seeking something more assertive than the classic. Unlike sweet or fruity cocktails, the Dirty Martini made no apologies for its intensity — it was deliberately savoury, deliberately strong, and deliberately polarising.

The early 2000s saw the Dirty Martini become a symbol of sophisticated urban drinking, featured prominently in popular culture and ordered by Wall Street executives, fashion insiders, and cocktail enthusiasts seeking something more assertive than the classic.

Today the dirty martini is one of the most requested martini variations in upscale bars worldwide. The key insight modern bartenders bring is that the quality of the brine matters as much as the spirit: artisanal olive producers like Castelvetrano and Cerignola yield brine with clean, pure olive flavour, while mass-produced olives packed in vinegar-forward brine create an unbalanced, harsh cocktail. Purpose-made cocktail brines from brands like Dirty Sue and Filthy Food have also emerged to meet demand from home bartenders and professionals alike.

Bartender’s Insight

Pro Tips

Utilisez des olives vertes de qualité et de la saumure plutôt que des versions en bouteille riches en sodium et en conservateurs

From Elena

  • ajoutez la saumure graduellement pour contrôler la salinité et maintenir l'équilibre avec le vermouth

  • remuez doucement plutôt que secouer pour préserver la clarté et la texture

  • refroidissez bien votre verre coupe avant de servir.

At the Table

Perfect Pairings

Olives au fromage bleu
Plateaux de charcuterie
Canapés de saumon fumé
Noix salées et bretzels

Beyond the Classic

Variations

Martini Extra Dirty

Augmente la saumure d'olive à un rapport 1:1 pour un profil intensément savoureux

Martini Gibson (Oignon)

Remplace les oignons cocktail par des olives, créant une variation plus douce et légèrement sucrée

Martini Dirty Vodka

Utilise de la vodka au lieu du gin pour un caractère plus pur et moins botanique.

Questions

Frequently Asked

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