You don’t have to be naughty to enjoy a few Extra Dirty Martinis, but it helps.
“I would like a vodka martini, please.”
“Okay.”
“Very dry, with olives, a lot of olives. Like, at least three olives.”
By now we all know that Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were always meant for each other. And when a flustered Pepper asks Tony to get her a martini in 2008’s Iron Man with “a lot of olives”, everyone felt the heat. Kind of makes me wish that by the time they were officially together in later movies, the Extra Dirty Martini she ordered was called back to. I’m a mush like that.
Tonight’s cocktail isn’t just for cinematic romantics. It’ll get you kicked out of places too. We were celebrating a close friend’s birthday at a popular martini bar in Los Angeles – both will remain nameless – where one of their signature drinks was the Extra Dirty. Whoever ordered one was given a martini glass and their own shaker, filled with enough booze for a few drinks. Not being a fan of olives or their brine, I was enjoying Vespers that evening. After a few hours, it was just my friend and I, and she hadn’t been out in a long while. Pretty soon, those Extra Dirty Martinis were catching up with her. Long story short, we were asked to leave. As the bouncers escorted us down the street, I was told I was welcome back anytime, but “my wife” was banned for life. I didn’t argue.
Adding olive brine to a martini goes back to 1901. Some folks have claimed that New York City bartender John O’Connor was inspired to try it out based on the olive garnish that sometimes accompanies the drink. It took some time for the Extra Dirty Martini to catch on, however. In fact, the description “dirty martini” didn’t become a part of the vernacular until the 1980s.
By the way, there are recipes out there for olive oil infused gin martinis, if that’s more your speed. As I mentioned earlier, I’m weird in that I don’t like olives, or olive brine, but I love olive oil. Go figure.
Shaken, not stirred.
While James Bond probably wouldn’t imbibe an Extra Dirty Martini (he usually orders his with a lemon peel) he would approve of the way it’s prepared. While most martinis are stirred to avoid bruising the spirits and diluting the drink too much, this one is shaken for a few reasons. One, you’ll get a crisp and cold result, and the ingredients will meld together more thoroughly than stirring, especially with the brine. Also, the dilution from shaking will lessen the salty profile the olive brine will give the concoction.
What is the Best Alcohol to Use in an Extra Dirty Martini?
You can shake up your Extra Dirty Martini using either gin or vodka. I like a top-shelf London Dry such as a No. 3 or Tanqueray No. 10. Both feature perfectly balanced botanicals without tasting too juniper-heavy. For something a little fruitier, give a bottle of Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret gin a try. For vodka, I keep things simple with a bottle of Polish rye, which is peppery and smooth with a subtle hot finish.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 ounces vodka or gin
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1 ounce olive brine
- Ice cubes
- 3 green olives
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before preparation.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and pour the vodka or gin, dry vermouth, and olive brine into the shaker.
- Shake the mixture vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- Strain the cocktail into the chilled martini glass to prevent ice shards in your drink.
- Garnish with three green olives on a toothpick or skewer and serve immediately.
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
Chill a martini glass in your freezer for fifteen to thirty minutes. Garnish with a lot of olives, like, at least three olives.
You can premix and store this recipe ahead of time and stick it in your freezer for a really cold and smooth textured tipple.
Each glass will have about 234 calories. These are pretty potent drinks, so be careful when having a few.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt was purported to love this style of martini. He was even said to serve them to guests who would visit the White House. No wonder he was one of the most popular presidents in American history.
Extra Dirty Martini Variations
Martinis will never go out of style. Sleek, strong, sophisticated and elegant, this classic and iconic cocktail is easy to make, but takes finesse to master. Twist & Toast has some of the best ‘Tini recipes for you to practice with. Before you know it, you’ll be making and serving perfect pours for your friends, and yourself. Cheers!
- Vodka Martini – James Bond’s beverage of choice. Shaken, not stirred of course.
- Tequila Martini – Tequila and vermouth combine for a Southwestern-styled tipple.
- Gin Martini – The classic and iconic cocktail, a monument to mixed drinks.
- Cranberry Martini – Orange liqueur and cranberry juice join the vodka and vermouth in this tart ‘Tini.
Leave a Comment