Shaken or Stirred?

It’s Friday, I’m still living in a hotel, and a herd of toddler aged elephants has apparently moved into the room above me. I could have poured myself a simple glass of wine, but I decided to go the “I don’t have to get up early and go to work tomorrow” route and shake myself up a martini.

I don’t have fancy glassware or strainers or stirrers or jiggers, but I have a shaker and a glass and that’s all I really need for this cocktail.

First, add ice to the shaker. Then I use the top piece of the shaker to measure the vodka. I don’t even know what the volume is, pretty sure it’s close to an ounce, but the ratios are more important than the actual amount.

Add the olive brine…this is where the proportions come in. I like 1/2 – 1 oz (or 1/2 – 1 capful) of brine, depending how salty I’m feeling. If you like it on the less dirty side, the ratio of brine to olives in a jar will probably do you just fine. (I buy olives at stores like World Market and Homegoods, they always have something fun stuffed in them so you can be even fancier). If you like it on the dirtier side, you can augment the brine by adding some dry vermouth to stretch it, or buy brine by itself. I’ve recently found Filthy Olive Brine and I’ve been mixing half and half with the brine from the olives in my drinks.

Now, here’s where we separate the rookies from the bartenders. Strain the drink. You can use the little holes in the top of the shaker or use a cocktail strainer…but it’s just as easy to use the top of the shaker or the shaker glass to strain the drink. Basically crack the shaker open (if it seems stuck, give it a thump with the heel of you hand up by the seam with the top), then form a small slit between the two and pour out the drink. (You might achieve expert level if you can do this one handed and take pictures for a blog while pouring the drink all at the same time, just sayin’)

Now, make yourself a gourmet snack, turn on some music, and enjoy your cocktail. You earned it this week!

Martini Vocab:

Martini: Vodka or gin and dry vermouth, shaken usually

Dry Martini: Vodka or gin, less vermouth

Sweet Martini: Vodka or gin, sweet vermouth instead of dry

Dirty Martini: Martini with olive brine in it

With a twist: Martini with a piece of lemon peel twisted and dropped in

Gibson: Martini with a pickled cocktail onion instead of olives or a twist

Up: Strained and generally served in that silly martini glass that you can’t carry anywhere without spilling your drink

Rocks: In a much more reasonable glass with ice

Neat: Seriously, just order a glass of cold, straight liquor, it’s the same thing

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Dirty Vodka Martini

A salty, cold sip of sunshine at the end of a long day...or a glass of olive flavored vodka, however you want to refer to it.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 mins

Total Time 2 mins

Course Cocktails

Servings 1 Cocktail

Ingredients

  

• 3 oz Vodka (I’m a Tito’s girl, but pick your fave, or use gin)
• 1/2 - 1 oz Olive Brine
• Pitted Olives
• Ice
• Cocktail Shaker

Instructions

 

• 

Notes

Ok, this couldn’t be simpler, but you’ll look cool making it!

1. Put the ice in the shaker
2. Put the vodka and the olive brine in the shaker
3. Put the olives in the glass
4. Shake the shaker for at least 20 seconds
5. Strain into the glass and enjoy!