The recent post on olive appetizers inspired some interest in cocktails! Of course, one of the most classic olive applications is the dirty martini – a natural favorite with Spec’s selection of fine spirits!
With the recent trend towards craft cocktails, new spins on old favorites have sprouted up. Here are two takes on the dirty martini: a classic recipe and a new twist that infuses gin with olive oil!
Classic Dirty Martini
3 oz gin
¼ oz dry vermouth
¼ oz olive juice
3 cocktail olives
Combine the gin, vermouth, and olive juice in a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Shake until combined and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with olives on a toothpick.
Variations abound on this drink: some prefer to simply rinse the cocktail glass with vermouth, and the olive juice is a matter of taste. As always, Spec’s encourages responsible experimentation to find the right ratio for you!
The Olive And Twist
3 ounces olive oil-washed gin
½ ounce sherry wine vinegar
Lemon twist
Rosemary sprig (optional)
To make olive oil-washed gin, put a 750 ml bottle of gin and 1/2 cup of good quality olive oil in a large glass bowl. Save the bottle. Cover and store in a cool, dry place for 1 week.
Refrigerate the bowl overnight, then place a coffee filter into a funnel and funnel the infusion back into the bottle. This will remove the solidified olive oil and add an intriguing olive character to the gin.
For one cocktail:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vinegar, shake, and strain off the vinegar. Add gin, stir until chilled, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Float the lemon twist and garnish with rosemary.
