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Taking the Mystery Out of the Dirty Martini

While modern mixologists mash, measure, and infuse drinks for waiting customers, one of the most popular drink requests is still the dirty martini. You may recognize the drink as one that a well-dressed movie hero requests as “shaken, not stirred” or a lovely actress has at a bar as she sits staring into a glass of liquid that she stirs with her speared olive. You may also remember that Hemingway declared the cocktail was a civilized creation and as he moved the drink into iconic classic status.

History

There is no clear cut history about where the dirty martini recipe came from. Some claim the drink was invented in Martinez, California, during the height of the gold rush. Others decry that notion and claim that bartender Johann Schwartzendorf changed his name to Jean Martini when he emigrated from France to America in 1758 – and the dirty martini was his favorite drink. While the creator is unknown, during the 1960s, the drink became a hit when business was conducted over a “martini lunch” by men and women across the United States.

Variations

The difference between the dirty martini and the original version is the dirty recipe adds a small amount of green olive brine to the mixture. If you haven’t tried to make the well-known drink, why not create the classic version at allrecipe.com. Make sure to include Absolut vodka to give the drink an authentic taste and remember to save the brine off the olives because you will need it to make the beverage. Variations of the mixture can also be found with blue cheese stuffed into olives or almond slivers floating in the bottom of the glass. There is also a new version of the drink making the round at the clubs that features olives stuffed with jalapenos for a spicy kick.

Parings

Although there are many types of dirty martini recipes available, the choice of food pairings almost always appears on the opposite side of the drink’s flavor profile or with the same salty side. That means if you are having a jalapeno spiced martini, choose sweet, rich foods that can soothe the taste buds and balance out the salty-spiced flavors. To counter the bitterness of the sour taste of the original flavors, choose cream cheese stuffed celery, deviled eggs, or crostini covered in hummus. If you are serving the cocktails with appetizers, choose a fish or chicken with a buttery or bold flavor to balance the acidic taste of the drink. You can also use the earthy flavors of stuffed mushrooms or breaded zucchini, or select fruits such as tomatoes, cantaloupes, or watermelon. Don’t forget you can also pair the drinks with salty foods such as cheeses, chips, or nuts.

Although there are many drinks that bartenders assert are classics, there are few that can claim to have the same ingredients from creation until today that the dirty martini has. If you enjoy the salty flavor of the green olive mixed with the Absolut vodka as it slips across your tongue, why not ask the bartender for a dirty martini the next time you find yourself at a bar – and don’t forget the cheese sticks.

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