The Martini is hailed as one of the great gems of the cocktail world. Strong, cold, and subtle, the Martini is a perfect cocktail that has and will continue to stand the test of time. It’s offspring, the Dirty Martini, is not quite as revered as its predecessor, but the craft cocktail world is trying to change that. With an endless assortment of spirits and vermouths to choose from, the bartender has limitless variations to experiment with, making the quest for creating the best Dirty Martini fun and exciting.
COCKTAIL: NOT SO DRY MARTINI
Full Ingredients list
- 1 oz Lustau Vermut Dry
- 2 oz London Dry Gin
- 3 Green Olives
Recipe author: The House of Lustau
WHO INVENTED THE DIRTY MARTINI COCKTAIL?
The origins of the Dirty Martini date back to the turn of the 20th century, when John O’Connor started serving a Martini with muddled olives at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. However, Mr. O’Connor did not use any olive brine. The first written account of the Dirty Martini with olive brine is found in G.H. Steel’s 1930 cocktail book My New Cocktail Book. There are rumors that President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Dirty Martini, but no substantial evidence can back up this claim. Legend has it that FDR was at the Yalta Conference in 1945 and was very hungover one morning. Joseph Stalin recommended a local Russian concoction to cure his hangover: vodka with pickle juice. Since neither could be found in his moment of anguish, FDR used gin and olive juice instead, which was recommended to him by Winston Churchill. Although FDR was an amateur bartender, most of his guests often complained about the quality of his cocktails, and without any evidence regarding his contribution to the Dirty Martini, most people credit G.H.Steel with the invention of the Dirty Martini. Our version of this salty favorite uses a London dry gin, accompanied by Lustau’s new Dry Vermut, which has a great deal of salinity and umami touch. Our Not so Dirty Martini is sure to be a hit for anyone seeking a balanced, savory, and salty cocktail.
WHAT IS THE BEST SPIRIT TO USE IN A DIRTY MARTINI?
Any unflavored gin or vodka can be used in a Dirty Martini. Traditionally, the Martini was gin based, but many people opt for vodka in their Dirty Martini as it does not over power the dry vermouth and olive brine.
WHAT VERMOUTH IS BEST FOR A DIRTY MARTINI COCKTAIL?
Feel free to experiment with different vermouths. Lustau Vermut Dry stands out as the perfect vermouth for crafting a memorable Dirty Martini. Its exceptional brininess, alongside its umami, savory personality harmoniously complements the gin.
Manzanilla provides a funky personality to this vermouth: briny with yeasty and nutty notes. Also, its production process provides differentiation and uniqueness making it an easy to mix vermouth that yet provides a genuine and complex personality to any cocktail that contains gin, vodka, tequila or mezcal.
WHY DOES DRY VERMOUTH PAIR WELL WITH A DIRTY MARTINI?
Dry vermouth provides slight bitterness and subtle flavors to the Dirty Martini. It pairs very well with the olive brine as the salty quality works synergistically with the dry vermouth.
HOW TO PREPARE A SIMPLE DIRTY MARTINI WITH VERMOUTH COCKTAIL
1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass
2. Add ice, stir, and strain into a chilled martini glass
3. Garnish with olives on a spear
FAQ
What is the difference between a Dirty Martini and Pornstar Martini?
A Dirty Martini is a classic cocktail that is stirred without any juice and is much simpler than the Pornstar Martini. A Pornstar Martini is a shaken, modern classic cocktail which uses vanilla vodka, passionfruit and lime juice, and is topped with sparkling wine.
What martini does James Bond drink?
James Bond traditionally orders a Vesper Martini, shaken, not stirred.
