Opinion | Sorry, dirty martini drinkers. I used to judge you for choosing to order it – now, I appreciate the drink for what it can be
- The dirty martini, believed to have originated in 1901, found favour with the likes of US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who drank them in the White House
- Lorenzo Antinori, beverage manager of the Four Seasons Hong Kong, reveals why he used to look down on those who ordered one and why his stance has now shifted
This is my letter of apology to the dirty martini.
It’s true, I have sinned. I haven’t properly carried out my duties as bartender. I didn’t put in love and honour when it came to mixing a dirty martini. I simply couldn’t understand why people would order this evil mix of booze and dirty olive/pickle brine.
And yes, we did judge people based on their drinks choice. And we did judge dirty martini drinkers.
The dirty martini did have its golden years. It is believed to have originated in 1901, when New York bartender John O’Connor found inspiration in the classic’s famous olive garnish. First made by muddling the olive into gin, and later by adding a splash of olive brine, the cocktail took decades to find a wider audience.
It eventually reached critical mass and found favour with the likes of American president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served and drank dirty martinis in the White House. Then, in the 1970s, vodka was substituted for gin – and the drink’s descent into hell began.
