Dirty Greek Martini

get dirty, Grecian style...

In doing research for this post, I came across many "Grecian style" dirty martini recipes. Each one simply swapped out green olives and juice for Kalamata. I was planning to do this myself, but felt that this was a little boring. So, I kept searching and found the recipe posted here. It includes pepperoncini juice, which added just the twist I was looking for.

This dirty martini recipe is not only briny from the Kalamata olive juice, but spicy too from the pepperoncini. Of course, I'm garnishing with the olives and pepperoncini, but I couldn't help but add feta cheese too. Even better would be feta cheese stuffed Kalamata olives! Make this drink when you need a change from the plain old dirty martini. Here's how...

Ingredients - Makes 2 drinks

3 oz. Vodka (or Gin)

1/2 oz. Dry Vermouth

1/2 oz. Kalamata Olive Juice

1/2 oz. Pepperoncini Juice

Garnish: Pitted Kalamata Olives, Cubed Feta Cheese, & Pepperoncini

Directions

In an ice filled shaker, combine the vodka, dry vermouth, Kalamata olive juice, and pepperoncini juice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with the olives, feta, and pepperoncini. Cheers! Or, as they say in Greek "yiamas".

Extra Dirty Vodka Martini

vodka martini, shaken, not stirred

Just like James, James Bond, I prefer my martinis shaken, not stirred. I've also confessed to you in an earlier post that my first martini was indeed a dirty martini and I fell in love with it's briny flavor. I always order this drink extra dirty, so naturally my recipe is just that. One of the other things that I love about this martini in particular are the blue cheese stuffed olives that typically accompany it. Just thinking about the combination now makes my mouth water.

Usually when I post drink recipes, I tell you that the garnishes are optional. In this case I'm telling you it's not. If I order one of these when I'm out and it's served sans blue cheese stuffed olives I'm always a little bit disappointed. So, one extra dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives shaken, not stirred coming right up...

Ingredients - Makes 1 Drink
3 oz. Vodka (suggest Chopin)
1 1/2 oz. Blue Cheese Olive Brine
1/2 oz. Dry Vermouth
Garnish with 2-3 Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

Directions
In a shaker filled with ice add the vodka, olive brine, and vermouth. Shake vigorously until well chilled, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 2-3 blue cheese stuffed olives. Sip to enjoy!