The Best Dirty Martini
The DS editors have gone through their fair share of drinking establishments in search of the best dirty martini they could find. And more often than not, the various concoctions handed back to us come terribly short of the chilled briny perfection we’ve been seeking. The ratio of vodka to olive juice is sometimes completely random, the olives themselves are often inedible, and the choice of vodkas in most places is typically uninspired (e.g. Absolut, Grey Goose, etc).
We decided it was time to take matters into our own hands and equip you with every item you need to make the best dirty martini you’ve ever had, right in the comfort of your own home.
The Hardware
Inside Out Martini Glasses by Alissia Melka Teichroew
Made of sturdy mouth-blown glass, the Inside Out Martini Glass (available at grounded for $55) has a compact form that keeps it more stable than its stemmed peers from errant swipes of your hand after you’ve had a few too many.
Cylinda Line Martini Set by Arne Jacobsen
Danish design at its best—simple, sleek and functional, the Cylinda Line Martini Set (available at Moss for $209) includes a mixer with strainer and spoon.
Crate & Barrel Drink Pourer
It’s simple—use one. The Crate & Barrel Drink Pourer (available at Crate & Barrel for $2.50) will ensure each ounce of your favorite spirit is appropriately measured. And in case you didn’t know, each ounce in a cocktail recipe should be measured out by a four count.
The SoftwareDry Fly Vodka
Winner of the best vodka, double gold medal at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Dry Fly Vodka (available at Binny’s for $35) is in a class all its own. Using Eastern Washington-grown soft winter wheat, Dry Fly Vodka’s ingredients are all sourced from within 20 miles of the distillery. The result is a vodka that manages to be exceptionally smooth and clean, yet complex with just a note of nuanced vanilla. You may be compelled to call Dry Fly Vodka the best vodka you’ve ever had.
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Dry
Using the same recipes since 1821, Dolin Vermouth (available at DrinkUpNY for $18) exhibits a lightness that is both dry and yet full of subtle botanical expressions—it can be enjoyed alone as an aperitif, or more importantly, it imparts great flavor when combined with your favorite martini.
Castelvetrano Olives
Castelvetrano Olives (available at Di Bruno Bros. for $9), identifiable by their telltale bright green hue, are the perfect garnish to our dirty martini—these olives are grown in Sicily and since they’re picked at an early age and cured without as much salt as other olives, they have an ideal saline quality that is flavorful and yet well balanced.
The Best Dirty Martini Recipe
Ingredients
• 3.5 oz Dry Fly Vodka
• ¼ oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
• 1 splash Castelvetrano olive brine (two splashes for extra dirty)
Steps
• Add ice and pour all ingredients into the martini shaker
• Shake vigorously for 20 seconds and then strain into the chilled martini glass
• Garnish with three Castelvetrano olives
