Are you dirty or perfect? November 17 2020

No confusion here - we love a little olive brine in our martini - that puts us firmly in the dirty camp, but for martini purists out there, there is no shame in being perfect. 

Martinis, like a classic white shirt - need personal touches to make it your favourite and ‘go to’ for cocktail night. 

This easy, elegant cocktail combines dry gin, vermouth and green olives

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

• 140ml London dry gin  
• 25ml dry vermouth
• 6 green olives, pitted, plus 25ml of the brine
• ice

Method:

• Put two martini glasses in the fridge to chill. 
• Thread the olives onto two cocktail sticks and set aside.
• Fill a shaker or mixing glass with the ice, then pour in the gin, vermouth and olive brine. Stir until the outside of the shaker feels cold. 
• Strain the mix into the chilled glasses and garnish with the olive skewers.

OR if you prefer to be perfect, the following might be more your style.

 Ingredients: (Serves 1)

• 60ml vodka or gin
• 1 tbsp (15ml) dry vermouth
• olive or lemon peel to garnish
• ice

 Method:

• Chill your glass.
• Stir the gin or vodka, dry vermouth and a little ice together or put them in a cocktail shaker to combine.
• Strain into a chilled martini glass. Serve with an olive on a cocktail stick or a twist of lemon peel.