Why olive in martini

A nod to the classic martini, these combine dry vermouth, juniper, and coriander. Best for Dirty Martinis:. Jalapeno and garlic are double-stuffed into these olives. Best for Spritz:. Carefully stuffed with spicy pimento peppers, this pick is bold and salty. Best Blue Cheese-Stuffed:. They're filled with creamy blue cheese and steeped in a delicious, salty brine. In This Article Expand.

Our Picks. What to Look for. Why Trust The Spruce Eats? Best Overall: Divina Castelvetrano Olives. View On Amazon. Expert Tip Anthony Escalante, the lead mixologist at the Wrigley Mansion , goes one step further with his love of olives and saves the brine to use in future martinis.

The 9 Best Vodkas in Vermouth Marinated Pitted Olives. The 9 Best Gins of The 6 Best Cocktail Shakers in The 8 Best Drinking Glasses of Final Verdict Divina Castelvetrano Olives view at Amazon take the top spot for their meaty texture and deliciously buttery flavor, perfect for martinis, other cocktails, and snacking. The 8 Best Bloody Mary Mixes in Updated by Sharon Lockley. Sharon Lockley. Sharon Lockley has over 20 years of experience as an editor and writer and has been contributing to The Spruce Eats since Continue to 5 of 7 below.

Your Privacy Rights. How — and again, why — does it somehow work? They add a certain je ne sais quoi , a briny oceanic bite of salinity that mixes and melds nicely with botanicals like lemon, angelica, ginger, cardamom, and yes, juniper. And of course: they offer a built-in snack, too. While the dirty martini has become a standard iteration, the OG martini skewed more sweet than savory.

Cherries, among other fruits, were added to the drink alongside syrups and bitters, and often with a heavy pour of sweet vermouth. Sometimes absinthe got in the mix, other times not. But gin and dry vermouth — the major players in the martinis we stir, sip, and love today — were often an afterthought.

But why an olive? Not only is it an aesthetic addition to any Martini glass, but it doubles as a salty treat. When a Martini is served with three olives on a toothpick, seasoned drinkers might enjoy one with the first sip.

The rest are consumed once the drink is finished. For such a simple garnish, the olive is subject to one simple rule: The olives topping Martinis must always be in groups of three or singular.

Many recipes for the classic cocktail recommend using gourmet olives to embellish the drink. Dedicated martini drinkers savor the olives at the end of the drink. Olives soak up some of the gin and vermouth, giving them a unique taste. When the drink comes with more than one olive, martini lovers typically eat one olive with the first sip, using a cocktail pick or just swallowing.

The second or last olive is swallowed with the last of the drink. There is no definitive story on the creation of the martini, but folklore suggests the drink was first mixed during the California Gold Rush. The miner, arriving in Martinez, the first large town he hit, wanted to celebrate. He walked into our leading bar and asked for champagne," according to the City of Martinez website. Champagne was not available.