Dirty Martini

Dirty Martinis are traditionally made with gin but can also be made with vodka. The Dirty Martini is one of the most popular variations of the Martini.

The Dirty Martini is a popular variation of the classic Martini cocktail that has been enjoyed by cocktail enthusiasts for over a century. Cocktail expert David Wondrich has traced the origins of this drink to John E. O'Connor, a bartender who worked at the Waldorf Astoria in New York in 1901. O'Connor is said to have created a Dry Martini with muddled olives, which he called the Dirty Martini. Despite O'Connor's creation, the first written reference to adding brine to a Martini-style cocktail didn't appear until 1930. In that year, G.H. Steele published ‘My New Cocktail Book’, which included a recipe for a ‘Dirty Martini’ that called for a teaspoon of olive brine to be added to a standard Martini. The Dirty Martini has since become a beloved cocktail and a staple of bar menus around the world. To make a Dirty Martini, bartenders typically start with a base of gin or vodka, along with a small amount of dry vermouth. They then add a splash of olive brine, which gives the drink its signature ‘dirty’ flavour. The cocktail is traditionally garnished with one or more olives.