The Perfect Dirty Martini with Beachcomber Vodka
Salty, savoury and ice cold, the Dirty Martini is one of those cocktails that manages to feel sophisticated without being complicated.
So, what makes a Martini dirty?
It’s simply the addition of olive brine to a classic Martini. The brine gives the drink its slightly cloudy appearance, hence the name “dirty”, while adding a delicious salty, savoury edge. The more brine you add, the dirtier it gets.
And if there was ever a vodka made for a Dirty Martini, it’s our Herding Cats Beachcomber Vodka.
Beachcomber is crafted from our own distilled organic wine spirit and infused with hand-foraged golden kelp and native saltbush. Smooth, subtly savoury and with a distinctly coastal character, it works beautifully with the salty olive brine rather than disappearing behind it.
Beachcomber Dirty Martini
Serves 1
You’ll need
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60mL Herding Cats Beachcomber Vodka
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10mL dry vermouth
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10mL olive brine
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Plenty of ice
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2–3 green olives, to garnish
Method
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Fill a cocktail shaker or mixing glass generously with ice.
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Add the Beachcomber Vodka, dry vermouth and olive brine.
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Stir until very cold. Or shake it if that’s how you like your Martini. We’re not here to judge.
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Strain into a chilled Martini or coupe glass.
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Garnish with a couple of green olives.
Tips & Tricks
Keep everything cold. A Martini is at its best properly chilled, so pop your glass in the freezer for 10–15 minutes before serving if you can.
Start with less brine. You can always make your Martini dirtier. Start with around 10mL, taste, then add a little more if you want a bigger salty hit.
Use good olives. They’re not just a garnish. Look for plump, good-quality green olives with plenty of flavour, and use the brine from the same jar in your drink.
Don’t skimp on the ice. Plenty of ice chills the drink quickly and gives you the right amount of dilution without watering it down.
Stir for silky, shake for punchy. Stirring gives you a crystal-clear, silky Martini. Shaking creates a slightly colder, more aerated drink. Both work, so choose your camp.
Want it extra dirty? Increase the olive brine to 15–20mL. If you really love that salty, savoury profile, try adding an extra olive or two as well.
What to serve with a Dirty Martini
The salty, savoury character of a Dirty Martini makes it a brilliant aperitif and an easy match with food.
Our pick? A generous antipasto platter with marinated olives, good cheese, charcuterie, pickled vegetables and crusty bread. The briny olives and savoury flavours echo the Martini beautifully, while Beachcomber’s kelp and saltbush character gives the whole pairing a distinctly coastal feel.
It’s also fantastic with oysters, smoked salmon, prawns or anything salty and snackable.
Cold vodka, a little vermouth, a splash of olive brine and an olive or two.
Simple. Salty. Very, very good.
