Send to KindleWhat’s a girl to do when she’s on the verge of the weekend and she’s feeling a little dirty or wants to get her guy feeling a little dirty? The obvious answer is to shower and get that dirty feeling off your body, but that’s not the kind of dirty I’m talking about…get it? 
It’s no secret I like a good martini: gin, vodka, fruity and wussy or knock me on my ass strong. If it’s served in a martini glass, odds are that I’ll try it and probably like it, a lot! This one is a bit of an exception. The dirty martini is a vodka martini with a splash of olive juice and is usually served with extra olives (since the drinker of this vodka cocktail has an obvious love of olives). But then there’s the extra dirty martini recipe which consists of more than a splash of olive juice (or brine if you prefer). This is Craig’s go-to drink. I can always tell what kind of day he’s had at work based on his drink choice: dirty martini, extra dirty martini or a manhattan. Let’s just say if he’s making up an extra dirty martini I know it’s time for me to get extra dirty.
The Ultimate Extra Dirty Martini
The dirty martini recipe is a very simple one, but it’s surprising how often bars and restaurants don’t get it quite right. Most of the time it’s not been good, we’ve found that there is a soapy taste to the drink (usually caused by the glasses not being properly rinsed or the the olive holder hasn’t been properly cleaned). Because the drink is so simple, you can taste everything that’s in it, so it’s very easy to taste these off flavors.
Since this is a drink that showcases olives, this is the perfect time to break out those blue cheese stuffed, almond stuffed or any other type of specialty olive you or your significant other may like. Craig likes it straight forward: 4 Queen Sevillano Olives and the brine from the same jar.
To give you an idea how much he loves Olives….One year I went to a bar supply store and bought him a gallon jar of olives for Christmas. I wrapped it up, along with his other gifts. While everything else went into a pile, those olives were proudly displayed for all to see when they came to the house. Storing a gallon of olives became an entirely different issue. Needless to say, there were numerous dirty martini’s and extra dirty martini’s made that holiday season and everyone in this house was in an especially good mood.
Relationship Advice
Recipe: Extra Dirty Martini
Ingredients
- Splash of Lillet
- 2 Ounces Vodka
- 3/4 – 1 Ounce Olive Brine (olive juice)
- 4 Olives
Instructions
- Add the splash of Lillet to martini glass.
- Swirl the Lillet around the glass then pour it out.
- Add the vodka, olive brine and ice to a shaker.
- Cover and shake until your hand is so cold you swear it’s going to fall off.
- Strain drink into martini glass.
- Spear olives and drop into side of drink.
- Serve.
Variations
Instead of Lillet, you could also use dry vermouth. You can also use as much or little Lillet/vermouth as you prefer.
Preparation time:5 Minutes
Cooking time:0 Minutes
Number of servings (yield): 1
Culinary tradition: USA (General)
My rating
The alwanys say there 3 levels of Dirty Martini’s that makes me laugh,
Level one – Dirty Martini
Level Two- Super Dirty Martini
Level Three- Crack “Wh–e” Dirty Martini
love that!!!!
Cute…kinda like One tequila, two tequila, three tequila floor.
I just like saying the name! GREG
Love all those olives.. Combined with the gin and Lillet, it’s (almost) a complete meal!
Funny you should mention that…Craig says he’s making a salad for himself when he makes up one of these.
Dirty Martinis are my go to “wind down” drink- those pictures are making me thirsty! My man is the skilled bartender at home, which can cause some dirty hangovers in the morning.
Loving that first shot Pamela. Someone it totally getting her way with that lens…
OMG, that first photo has me DYING for a dirrrrrty martini now! Maybe I should dash to the supermarket for some Lillet or Vermouth… we got the rest covered!
I’m thinking you need to visit your local grocery store ASAP! It is the weekend after all.
Cheers to getting dirty and enjoying a martini. Love it! We shake a lot of cocktails at our house but, the classic martini…well, it’s just classic.
Velva
P.S. I would love to host your martini photo for my wordless Wednesday post. The photo would credit you and provide a link back to your blog. Let me know if you are interested.
Hi Velva,
Looks like it’s going to be a dirty weekend all around. I love it!
I would be honored for you to use my martini photo for your wordless Wednesday post.
A man after my own heart. I looooove me a good dirty martini. And you’re so right, more often than not they’re not made correctly. There’s either too much olive juice or not nearly enough.
Have you and Craig been to the Side Door in Manhattan Beach? They have three dirty martinis listed on their menu: X, XX, XXX, depending of course on how dirty you like it. I got the XX and it was awesome! If you haven’t been, you should definitely give it a try one night.
We have been to the Side Door many a time. Had mine and my girlfriends grad school graduation parties there. Many a hangover…many a hangover.