A few years ago, I was introduced to the piece of class in a glass that is the dirty vodka martini. I quickly learned just how I preferred them: extra dirty, extra dry. In my humble opinion, with even more olive brine, less vermouth and reaching-for-it vodka (aka top shelf – and never with gin for me), this drink lives up to its fullest potential.
I was racking my brain for ways to doll up this version for lounge involvement, and my thoughts headed to that very jar of olives. Should I add olive oil? Nooooo way. Vinegar? Ewwww. Herbs? Now we’re getting somewhere. What I decided to use never seems to do anything but grow, and grow, and grow (in my neighbor’s yard – even better!) in Portland: fresh rosemary.
Rosemary: It's about time for your arrival.
2 ounces high quality vodka or gin
1 ounce green olive brine
½ ounce dry vermouth
First, rub the inside of a martini glass with a rosemary sprig. Set sprig aside, and chill glass for a minimum of 10 minutes. Combine ice, vodka or gin, vermouth, brine and the sprig you used to rub the glass in a cocktail shaker.
Add the olives and 2nd rosemary sprig into your chilled glass. Shake the liquid ingredients, and pour into glass.
Enjoy.
That’s how I have my Martinis! Extra dirty, extra dry, extra olives too! Will definitely try rosemary. How about threading olives onto a sprig? That would be interesting!
I had a cocktail vision, if you will, and it included olives on a sprig, but my little sprigs didn’t hold up. Alas.
Rubbing the glass with rosemary is an awesome idea!
thank you! I felt like I was channeling the ghost of some great mixologist from the 50s…
I am actually a gin martini fan..do you think this would work at well? i definitely have some rosemary needing to be used..
I had a bad experience with gin years ago, so if it’s off my radar, but you should totally try it! Technically, I think that’s even classier…
That is such a great idea. I’m really more of a fruity drink person, but this sounds like something I’d like too. mmm olives and rosemary. mmmmmm
[...] beverage accompanients: Red wine, cold beer or or cocktails, such as dirty martinis, Bloody Marys (side-note: I had such a zesty, vegan-marked BM at Bar Carlo in SE over the weekend [...]
[...] From The VVC Cocktail Lounge Not only does a fresh sprig of rosemary act as a garnish here, a nice hint of flavor is added after an initial rub of the glass. Make sure to use high quality olives and vodka. – Extra Dry Extra Dirty Rosemary Martini – Ingredients: 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 ounces high quality vodka or gin 1 ounce green olive brine ½ ounce dry vermouth 2-3 pitted, stuffed olives [the above cocktail uses garlic-stuffed Peruvian green olives] – Obligatory garnish: rosemary spear, olives – [...]