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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Dirty Martini

Dirty Martini is a savoury variation on the martini with a briny edge and a crisp chilled serve. It works best when the drink should feel bold, direct and classic without becoming sweet.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic28.2% ABV5 ingredients

At a Glance

180 kcalCalories
28.2%ABV
0.6gSugar
0.9gCarbs
1.81Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderateshaken drink

Why: 5 ingredients, shaken drink, requires rimmed glass, requires shaker

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients & Tools

  • 70ml/2fl ozVodkaBase Spirit
  • 1 tbspDry VermouthFortified Wine
  • 2 tbspOlive BrineOther
  • 1 wedgeLemonFruit
  • 1OliveGarnish
Tools:Cocktail Shaker

How to Make It

  1. Pour the vodka, dry vermouth and olive brine into a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and shake well.Shaken
  2. Rub the rim of a Martini glass with the wedge of lemon.Rim
  3. Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker into the glass and add the olive.Shaken
  4. A dirty Martini contains a splash of olive brine or olive juice and is typically garnished with an olive.Garnish

How to Serve

Glass
Cocktail Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Taste

What does Dirty Martini taste like?

Dirty Martini is bright and tart, with citrus carrying much of the first impression. Sweetness and dilution need to balance the sharpness.

Primary flavours

CitrusSaltySavory

Supporting notes

BotanicalDryHerbalTart

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • High ABV
  • Dry finish
  • Bright and citrusy

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

Variations

Easy ways to adjust Dirty Martini

For a sharper version, increase the citrus slightly. For a rounder version, add a touch more sweetener or use a richer base ingredient, but avoid hiding the fresh acidity.

When to choose it

How to decide if Dirty Martini is right for you

Dirty Martini is best when you want brightness and a clean tart edge. Choose it if citrus balance matters more than richness, creaminess or heavy sweetness. The listed serve is about 24.0% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Dirty Martini if...

Skip Dirty Martini if tart citrus is not what you want. Sour-style drinks rely on acidity, so they can feel sharp when you are looking for richness or sweetness.

When to serve

  • AperitifSuggested from its dry and botanical notes.
  • Happy HourSuggested from its dry notes, pairing with salty snacks.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

BrunchTacosSalty Snacks

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVeganVegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Vodka70ml/2fl oz

GinWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same volume; expect more juniper and herbal aroma.
What changes
Gin can replace vodka when a more botanical result is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Dry Vermouth1 tbsp

Dry SherryWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount, then taste; the result will be less herbal and more savoury.
What changes
Dry sherry can replace dry vermouth when a drier, more saline and less herbal variation is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Lillet BlancKnown variation
How much to use
Start with the recipe amount and taste; reduce it if the drink becomes too soft or sweet.
What changes
Lillet Blanc can stand in for dry vermouth in a Martini-style drink, but it produces a softer and slightly sweeter variation.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Sweet VermouthNot a neutral swap
How much to use
Use only if a sweeter vermouth profile is acceptable.
What changes
Sweet vermouth is not a neutral substitute for dry vermouth; it makes the drink sweeter and rounder.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Olive1

Green OliveGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount.
What changes
Green olive is usually a close substitute for olive in martini-style drinks.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Dirty Martini at home?
Yes. The Dirty Martini uses 5 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Cocktail Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.