Wet, Dry & Dirty: What These Martini Cocktail Terms Mean
The martini cocktail is an elegant and iconic drink that’s been immortalised by pop culture. Yes, we’re looking at you, fans of a certain superspy with a licence to thrill. For all its simplicity, there are a lot of terms associated with this cocktail which might make you wonder as to how they’re different and why they’re so called. You’d be forgiven for not knowing the difference. To shake and stir things up, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the martini cocktail so that you can pick your favourite iteration.
The Classic
First, let’s dive into the classic recipe. To make a martini cocktail, you’ll need 30 ml of gin or vodka, 15 ml of dry vermouth, ice cubes, lemon twist or an olive for garnish. First, in a mixing glass combine the spirit, dry vermouth, and ice cubes. Stir the ingredients until everything is combined. Strain the liquid into a chilled martini glass and garnish it with a lemon twist or an olive.
Now how is this connected to the wet, dirty and dry variations, you ask? This classic drink will form the base for these “wet”, “dry,” and “dirty” variations, which are simply modifications to the classic recipe.
Wet
If you like the herbal tones of vermouth more, this variation is for you. The wet martini cocktail is a variation that incorporates a higher proportion of vermouth. This makes the cocktail wetter and less spirit-based. To make this, you’ll need 30 ml of gin or vodka, 30 ml of dry vermouth, ice cubes, and a lemon twist or olive for garnish. Follow the same preparation method as the classic martini cocktail and feel free to adjust the quantity of the vermouth for a wetter consistency.
Dry
The dry martini cocktail features less dry vermouth, resulting in a more spirit-forward and drier taste profile. Historically, this variation became popular because certain cocktail enthusiasts didn’t particularly enjoy dry vermouth much. For this variation, you need 30 ml of gin or vodka, 10 ml of dry vermouth, ice cubes and a lemon twist or olive for garnish. This rise of the dry martini cocktail can be traced back to the 20th century when the then UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and several other notable figures demanded less vermouth in their drinks.
Dirty
And finally, the dirty martini cocktail is simply a savoury twist on the classic recipe, achieved by adding olive brine to introduce a salty dimension to the drink. This variation is for those who enjoy a touch of umami in their cocktail experience. The term ‘dirty’ is annotated to it because of the resulting cloudy appearance on account of the olive brine. To make this, you’ll need 30 ml of vodka or gin, 15 ml of dry vermouth, 15 ml of olive brine, a lemon twist or olive for garnish.
The origins of this cocktail are a bit murkier, but it is rumoured that the drink originated when New York-based bartender John O’Connor thought of muddling olives and adding olive brine to the classic recipe. This became a favourite of a former US President, who allegedly stayed true to the drink for four terms.
Feel free to try these out (responsibly and in moderation!) and see which one you like best. You can also experiment with the methods of preparing martini cocktails – shaken, or even stirred!
Bonus: A Recipe For The Vesper Martini Cocktail
Ingredients
45 ml gin
15ml vodka
15 ml Lillet blanc aperitif
A lemon twist for the garnish
Method
This is one of those rarer martini cocktail variants that actually deserves a shaking (and not just stirring)! Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the gin, vodka and Lillet blanc. Shake vigorously for 20–30 seconds, until ice cold.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Rub the lemon twist along the rim of the glass, then drop it into the cocktail. Cheers!
