What's in a dirty martini?

The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. H. L. Mencken called the martini "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet", and E. B.

What makes a dirty martini dirty?

For those who like their cocktails to have a savoury edge, the Dirty Martini is a delicious, slightly salty, choice. The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of cocktail olives, has been added to the drink. An olive garnish is typically assumed, too.

What is a dirty martini vs regular?

The main difference between martini and dirty martini is that martini is a cocktail that contains gin and vermouth while dirty martini is a martini that contains a splash of olive brine or olive juice.

What is a dirty vodka martini made of?

Ingredients. 2 1/2 ounces gin or vodka. 1/2 ounce dry vermouth. 1/2 ounce olive brine. Garnish: 2 to 4 olives.

Is a dirty martini better with gin or vodka?

This will capitalize on the natural viscosity of the spirits, giving them the perfect taste alongside the vermouth. Gin offers a more complex and botanical flavor, while vodka can give your martini a smoother, more modern taste.

How to make a dirty martini - Dirty martini drink recipe

Is vermouth the same as gin?

Like gin, vermouth is created by macerating a blend of botanicals in alcohol, with each producer closely guarding its own secret recipe. Vermouth in fact takes its name from the German name of one key botanical, Wermut, or wormwood, a bitter, medicinal herb that is also a key component in absinthe.

What is a martini without vermouth called?

Bone-dry: a martini made with extremely little or no vermouth.

Does vermouth have alcohol?

Vermouth is fortified with additional alcohol (usually grape brandy), meaning they're higher proof than most wines, but nevertheless they are still moderately low-proof, about 15–18% alcohol by volume.

Is vermouth necessary in a martini?

You might have noted the absence of vermouth above. Though many dirty martini recipes call for a splash, Carlson-Tye believes there is no need. She mixed me one with vermouth and one without, and I agree. Vermouth, in its herbal sourness, works against the olive juice.

How do you order a dirty vodka martini?

Is a martini without vermouth just vodka?

No, this does not mean that your Martini is made without any vermouth at all—but it is the closest you can get to drinking a Martini that's just straight gin or vodka. This call specifies less than the standard measure of vermouth (the standard pour for a Martini is one ounce).

What is the difference between a wet and dry martini?

Dry Martini: Refers to the amount of vermouth in your Martini. The less vermouth, the drier it is. Wet Martini: Usually signifies a Martini that's a little sweeter than the average. The more vermouth you add, the 'wetter' your Martini is.

What is the purpose of vermouth?

Vermouth is used as an ingredient in many different cocktails, as people found it beneficial for lowering the alcohol content of cocktails with strong spirits as their base, for providing a pleasant herbal flavor and aroma, and for accentuating the flavors in the base liquor.

Why are there 3 olives in a martini?

For such a simple garnish, the olive is subject to one simple rule: The olives topping Martinis must always be in groups of three or singular. An unspoken superstition deems an even number of olives bad luck.

What does ordering a martini say about you?

Ordering a martini will definitely tell most bartenders you are not without your chops when it comes to downing a cocktail or three. This is the most pure of all mixed drinks. It is all about the alcohol and the balance of the ingredients, and there is nowhere to hide if it is badly prepared.

What is a bone dry martini?

It means there is no vermouth at all! Bone Dry - Chill a martini glass then rinse it with dry vermouth. Shake or stir your gin or vodka then strain into the chilled and rinsed glass. And voila, you have a bone dry martini!

Can I make dirty martini without vermouth?

Until I finally realized the key to the BEST Dirty Martini is no vermouth! This recipe couldn't be more simple… just 2 ingredients + ice… and it makes exactly the kind of Dirty Martini we all crave. Extra dirty… yet somehow completely clean in flavor.

Is a dirty martini better with or without vermouth?

A dirty martini is a regular martini that is made “dirty” with the addition of olive brine. While most dirty martini recipes call for a little brine and some Vermouth, we opt to take out the Vermouth and add in more brine. The result is a very cold and flavorful cocktail that olive lovers will fall head over heels for.

Is vermouth stronger than wine?

Vermouth has lower alcohol by volume (ABV) than liquor but higher than unfortified wine, typically around 16 to 18%. Like any alcoholic beverage, vermouth should be enjoyed in moderation.

Is vermouth a hard liquor?

Technically, vermouth isn't a spirit but a fortified wine—a flavored, aromatized wine that's had its ABV boosted with some kind of neutral alcohol (e.g. clear grape brandy) and been flavored with a variety of herbs, botanicals, and spices.

What is a bruised martini?

Bruised. A cocktail or martini is "bruised" when it's been over-shaken, adding slivers of ice and oxygen bubbles to the drink that give it a murky or cloudy appearance. Among pros, bruising cocktails is considered the mark of an amateur.

How does James Bond order his martini?

"Shaken, not stirred" is how Ian Fleming's fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond prefers his martini cocktail.