How to Make a Classic Dirty Martini
There is a reason the dirty martini has outlasted every cocktail trend. It is cold, precise, and uncompromising. It rewards intention.
The recipe is deceptively simple: gin or vodka, a touch of dry vermouth, and olive brine. Most recipes leave it at that, treating the brine as an afterthought. La Saum was built on the belief that the olive brine is the point. Sourced from single-origin Spanish olives, balanced specifically for the dirty martini, it turns a familiar drink into a ritual worth repeating.
The Classic Dirty Martini Recipe
INGREDIENTS
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2.5 oz gin or vodka
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0.5 oz dry vermouth
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0.5 oz La Saum olive brine (more to taste)
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Ice
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1 to 3 olives, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
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Fill a mixing glass with ice.
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Add the spirit, dry vermouth, and La Saum olive brine.
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Stir for 30 seconds until well chilled.
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Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
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Garnish with olives on a pick. Serve immediately.
Notes: Increase olive brine to 1 oz for an extra dirty version. For a wet martini, increase vermouth to 1 oz.
Why the Olive Brine Matters
The brine determines everything. Generic olive brine, the kind drained from a jarred olive, carries whatever the processing left behind. La Saum is crafted as an ingredient: clean, saline, and balanced. It does not fight the spirit. It works with it.
One bottle makes up to 25 martinis. The only variable is how dirty you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "dirty" mean in a dirty martini?
A dirty martini is a martini that includes olive brine, which gives it a salty, savory quality. The more brine added, the "dirtier" the drink.
How much olive brine should I use in a dirty martini?
Start with 0.5 oz for a standard dirty. Go to 1 oz or more for an extra dirty. Adjust to taste.
Gin or vodka: which is better for a dirty martini?
Both work. Gin adds botanical complexity that plays against the brine. Vodka lets the olive brine take the lead. The choice is a matter of preference.
The shortcut to sophistication starts with the right brine. Shop La Saum
