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Olive-Oil-Washed Martini in a cocktail (martini) glass with feta- or blue-cheese-stuffed olives (AI-generated image)
AI-generated image
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Olive-Oil-Washed Martini

A dirty vodka martini with a twist: the vodka is rested with extra-virgin olive oil, frozen and strained, which leaves it silky with a soft, peppery olive flavor. Shaken with olive brine and finished with cheese-stuffed olives.

Time
5 min
Difficulty
Advanced
Method
Shaken
Glass
Cocktail (martini) glass

Ingredients

Servings

Amounts below make 1 serving.

21+ · Please drink responsibly. Learn more

Garnish: Feta- or blue-cheese-stuffed olives (2)

How to make it

  1. 1

    Make the olive-oil-washed vodka at least 15 hours ahead (see Make ahead).

  2. 2

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the washed vodka and olive brine.

  3. 3

    Shake until completely chilled, about 15 seconds.

  4. 4

    Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the stuffed olives on a cocktail pick.

Swap it: Prefer gin? The same olive-oil wash works with a London dry gin. No stuffed olives? Use plain green olives.

Make ahead

Olive-oil-washed vodka

Bar batch

  • 1 bottle (750 ml) vodka
  • 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  1. Pour the vodka into a large freezer-safe container, add the olive oil and whisk hard for about 30 seconds. It won't fully blend, and that's fine.
  2. Seal and let it sit at room temperature for 2–4 hours, then freeze for at least 12 hours.
  3. Skim off and discard the solid layer of oil on top.
  4. Line a fine-mesh strainer with a coffee filter or cheesecloth, set it over a large bowl and pour the vodka through to catch any remaining oil. This takes about 25 minutes.
  5. Funnel into a clean bottle, label it and keep it in the fridge.

Makes enough for about 8 martinis. Keep it refrigerated.

Bar gear

Equipment for this drink

Tools you'll need

  • Cocktail shakerChills, mixes and dilutes shaken drinks in about 12 seconds. A two-piece Boston shaker is the bartender standard.
  • JiggerA double-sided measure so every drink comes out the same. Look for one marked in ½ and ¼ oz.
  • Hawthorne strainerThe spring-edged strainer that holds back ice when you pour from a shaker.

Recommended glassware

  • Cocktail (martini) glassThe classic V-shaped glass for martinis and cosmopolitans.

No shaker? A clean jar with a tight lid works. Build your home bar →

Recipe source: Real Simple — Olive-Oil-Washed Martini (Jenna Helwig). Quantities and basic method are factual. Description and steps are original Mixistry copy. Last updated 2026-10-11.

Contains alcohol. For adults 21+ (or the legal drinking age where you live). Please enjoy responsibly.

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