There is something about the pucker facter that I love. I love it with lemons, and I love it with dill pickles. So, if you're someone like me who can't pass up a goo dill pickle, you are going to love this drink.
A dill pickle martini, sometimes called a dirty pickle or a pickletini, is a twist on the classic dirty martini. Instead of olive brine, you shake vodka with dill pickle juice and dry vermoouth, then garnish with a pickle spear instead of an olive. Same briny, savory idea - different pucker!
I make mine with my own homemade Garlic Dill Pickles (Aunt Bonnie's Recipe), and I reduce the salt in that recipe speifically so this drink doesn't end up too sodium-heavy.
It took me a few rounds of trial and error to get the ratio right. Too much pickle juice and all you taste is dill. To little pickle juice and you basically have a regular vodka martini with a garnish identity crisis! After making this one for years, I've landed on a ratio that gives you real pickle flavor without losing the vermouth underneath it.
Ingredients
Vodka: Grab a good quality vodka here - when you're drinking mostly vodka, the cheap stuff shows. My go-tos are Titos and Grey Goose.
Dill pickle juice: This is the ingredient that makes or breaks the drink. I use brine from my own homemade dill pickles, made with less salt than a typicall jarred brine. If you're buying, look for a classic garlic dill or kosher dill. Skip the sweet bread-and-butter brine and skip cornichon brine. Cornichon brine in particular leans sharply vinegary and thros off the whole balance.
Extra dry Vermouth: Martini and Rossi makes a good one. You only need a small amount, but don't skip it. Vermouth is what keeps this from tasting like straight pickle juice with vodka in it. It rounds out the brine and gives the drink some backbone.
Instructions
Add ice to your cocktail shaker, then pour in the vodka, pickle juice, and vermouth. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels frosty - about 15 to 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled lmartini glass and garnish with a dill pickle spear.
Shake or stir? I shake mine. The general rule in cocktail circles is to shake when a juice is involved and stir when a drink is all spirits, like a classic dirty martini or an old fashioned. Since pickle juice is doing a lot of the work here, I shake it - it chills the drink faster and you get a touch more dilution, which actually helps soften the brine.
📖 Variations
- Swap the vodka for gin: the botanicals in gin play surprisingly well with dill.
- Use a spicy dill pickle instead of a regular garlic dill for a little heat in the brine.
- Make a dilly bean martini. Garnish with a pickled green bean instead of a pickle spear. I use my Pickled Green Beans recipe for this, and it's a fun one for a relish-tray-meets-cocktail-hour kind of party.
- Add a couple dashes of orange bitters if you want a little brightness against all that brine.
FAQ's
Yes, premix your vodka, pickle juicie, and vermouth in a pitcher and keep it in the fridge, then shake individual servings with ice right before serving.
Yes, this fits easily into a low-carb or keto lifestyle at around 1 net carb per serving.
A mason jar with a tight lid works in a pinch. Just hold the lid firmly while you shake.
Other Martini Drinks to Try
If you're in the mood to keep the martini hour going, I've got plenty more where this came from. Try my Lemon Drop Martini or Lime Drop Martini if you want something sweet and citrusy, or my Rhubarb Martini for a tangy spring twist. For dessert in a glass, my Chocolate Martini is always a hit.
📖 Recipe
Dill Pickle Martini
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 4 oz vodka
- 2 oz pickle juice
- 1 ½ oz extra dry vermouth
- ice
- 2 dill pickle spears
Instructions
- Place the ice, vodka, pickle juice, and vermouth in the cocktail shaker. Shake until frosty and pour to serve.
MDDK says
Delicious and a new twist on old favorite. I don’t understand how the pic says 0 carbs but nutritional content says 5 carbs, subtract 1 for fiber- so 4 net carbs. What am I missing?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
I'm not sure which pic your mentioning? Maybe it was an old pin or facebook share. The only carb content is in the vermouth and pickle juice, which is very minimal. I did the recalculations and realized the program chose a pickle juice that had some sugars in it and the pickle juice I use is my homemade solution from my garlic dill pickles or vlasic spears jar. So, this is actually 1 carb per serving. Not 0.
Rebecca says
Yum! I wanted to try something a little different since I had no olives in the house. This hit the spot!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Rebecca, glad you enjoyed the drink! Shelby
Peanut Butter Boy says
I love non-sweet drinks. Cucumber martinis are one of my favorites but I MUST try this one. Making it tonight!
Angie Barrett says
Sounds so weird, but that would possibly be really good haha. Must give it a try
Linda Maxwell says
Looks pretty strange to me, Shelby lol. I think I will have to try it though. 🙂
Jeane M. says
I really need some drinks right now and this just sound great. Onto the kitchen I go. 🙂 Got my eye on your next posts.
Kathleen says
LOVE these! I used to go to a bar that served pickle shots that were very similar to this. Potent, delicious, and dangerous! Especially with Absolut Peppar which gives it a spicy little kick.