Dirty

What does "dirty" mean?

If you order your martini "dirty", a splash of olive brine joins the gin and vermouth: the salty-savoury liquid green olives sit in, in the jar or on the garnish tray. The result is the famous Dirty Martini, with a mellow salty note and at least one olive on a pick as garnish.

The name actually comes from the look of the drink: the brine turns the otherwise crystal-clear martini cloudy and murky, so it literally appears "dirty". Taste-wise, the opposite is true, because the brine softens the drink, adds savoury depth and a lovely salty undertone.

How much brine goes into a Dirty Martini?

That is a matter of taste, and it is usually ordered in three levels:

• Dirty: a small splash of brine, the salty note is clear but subtle
• Extra dirty: noticeably more brine, salty and bold up front
• Filthy: the maximum level for everyone who loves it seriously salty

By the way, the brine replaces part of the vermouth, not the gin. If you like, you can combine "dirty" with "dry", meaning less vermouth. Just say what you like and we will build your drink exactly that way.

Don't mix them up: dry is not dirty

In everyday bar life, these two get confused the most:

• Dry: less vermouth, the drink becomes drier and more gin-forward
• Dirty: a splash of olive brine for that salty note

So "extra dry" means noticeably less vermouth, not extra salty. If you like both together, order a "dry dirty martini".

At our lounge

Fancy it salty and savoury? Just tell our team at the bar how dirty you like your martini. We will build it with a splash of brine, fresh olives and an ice-cold stirred gin of your choice. And if you have thought so far that olives only belong on a pizza board, simply give the Dirty Martini a try. Salty and chilled go wonderfully well together.