"The only American invention as perfect as the sonnet. " – H.L. Mencken, about the martini cocktail.
Indeed. And just as surely as the classic martini is a sonnet served cold, the dirty martini is a lusty vixen with bedroom in her eyes. The former makes you smile, and the latter makes you sweat. While the classic cocktail and her dirty sister do have much in common, a minor difference in preparation creates a huge divide in taste.
The difference is this: a dirty martini includes a splash with olive brine (the pickling juice). This gives the martini a cloudy or "dirty" appearance. It also adds a certain depth to the bright taste of martini. The more brine used, the dirtier the martini. All other ingredients and amounts remain the same.
Martini purists cling to the use of gin as the base spirit. New schoolers tend to prefer a smooth vodka martini (think Ketel One or Grey Goose). Both have their selling points: the gin based dirty martini is more aromatic and sensual. Vodka is more transparent, accentuating the vermouth and olive brine mix like silk sheets wrapping the body of a woman.
Dry (French) vermouth should always be used, regardless of the base spirit. Dry vermouth is the heartbeat of any martini… whether dry, dirty or sweet. This is especially so for the dirty martini, the sweetness of Italian vermouth clashes with the saltiness of the olive brine. You’d be best to avoid this if you want to finish your glass. Of course, the amount of vermouth to use is a matter of personal preference.
For those that prefer the martini "shaken, not stirred", include an olive with the components before shaking. This brings out the bite that makes a dirty martini unique. After you strain your drink, add a single olive to the glass for garnish.
As a side note: Using other garnish liquids, like pickled onion or gerkins juice, is not unheard of. Leave this to request; by definition a dirty martini is made with olive brine.
For the adventurous among us, try Hendricks gin in your next dirty martini. It’s distilled in Scotland, so it may be hard to come by. Dig for it anyway… it’s worth the effort.
Let me explain: Hendricks gin has a signature cucumber flavoring, which complements olive brine like melody does harmony. The taste is exciting and unique, and a must try for any aficionado.
With that, I bid you farewell until the next post. Here’s to you and yours…
Photo by Accidental Hedonist.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sean M., Martini Recipes. Martini Recipes said: New blog post, what is a dirty martini anyway? Check it out and please RT if you love it! [...]
+1
I read your all the time and I just thought I’d say keep up the amazing work!
Interesting blog as for me. I’d like to read a bit more concerning this topic. The only thing your blog misses is some photos of any devices.
Alex Flouee
vey interesting. wish to know more about martinis. i just love drinks
Thanks for the info. This is exactly what I was looking for. I am currently researching this topic so I will be back. Can you tell me how to subscribe to your blog?
Hey blogger, I found your blog via google, really enjoying it, keep up the writing!
A little self disclosure, I love coming to your blog while drinking my first cup of coffee before work!
Hendricks is easy to find in Ontario. Most liquor stores have it. I love a dirty martini and am going to make one (with Hendricks) at home for the first time today. I’ve been looking for recipes online and all include a counter intuitive amount of olive brine. You confirmed my instincts with adding just a splash. Thank you and happy holidays!
Thanks for the wondefull infomation. I may need to come back and see what others think about what you have said.