The Hot and Dirty Martini

Cocktails don't have to be fruity and sweet. Delight guests who prefer a more savory, booze-forward cocktail with one of our house favorites, the Hot and Dirty Martini.

My husband traveled to Boston on a business trip several months ago and came home raving about this cocktail. As a matter of fact, he told the waiter he liked it so much that he asked for the recipe. The waiter wrote it on a napkin, and it's still taped inside of our pantry, just in case we ever forget it. (But I really don't think I won't.) My husband wasn't kidding - this one is a keeper.

A cocktail for those who like it savory and a bit spicy.

This cocktail works on a lot of levels. The hot pepperoncini juice plus the olive juice delivers both the heat and the salty profile of this drink beautifully. It's a bit booze-forward, given the amount of vodka, but it's exactly what this cocktail needs to balance the flavors. It's also a versatile drink - one to enjoy on a patio, or to warm you up during the fall and winter months.

As for when to serve the Hot and Dirty, it's great as a first cocktail before a dinner party or during dinner. If you're setting up a martini bar, incorporating the pepperoncini juice is a great selection to surprise and delight! Go with vodka for this one, as you also want a neutral liquor - gin may throw off the savory flavors.

NOTE: this isn't a cocktail easily found in restaurants. And you want to be VERY specific if you do order while you're out. We've found bartenders search for the drink online - and most hot and spicy martini recipes use Tobasco or another hot sauce. IT'S NOT THE SAME! Those drinks lose the balance, are thick, and don't even look appealing. Imagine what ketchup would look like in a cocktail. Yuck. So before you order, ask if the bar or restaurant has hot pepperocinis before you order. If not, I'd pass.

The Hot and Dirty Martini

Ingredients (makes 1 cocktail)

• 1.5 - 2 oz vodka

• 1 oz hot pepperoncini juice

• 1 oz olive juice

• Bleu cheese olives (pimento-stuffed or garlic-stuffed olives are also good options)
  

Mix it Up

1. Prep your martini glass. Add 2 - 3 olives on a cocktail pick and place in the glass

2. Fill a shaker or mixing glass with ice. Add the vodka, pepperoncini juice and olive juice. With a cocktail spoon/regular spoon, STIR at least 30 seconds so the drink is well-chilled.

3. Use a strainer and pour the drink into the prepped glass.

Toast to the spicy things in life!

Note: I highly recommend stirring vs. shaking. Shaking this drink vigorously creates a viscous foam that doesn't look appetizing when you first pour it. Sorry, Bond.