Pickle Martini (Extra Dirty!)
by Sommer Collier — last updated on May 28, 2025 
This uniquely delicious extra dirty pickle martini recipe (AKA The Pickletini) is easy to make with only 3 ingredients, like dill pickle juice and your choice of gin or vodka!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
As you might have noticed, we love to host cocktail parties – from casual and intimate get-togethers to large and refined dinner parties. Whenever there is a new trendy viral cocktail recipe, we simply have to try it… And this Dirty Pickle Martini recipe is definitely a keeper!
If you love briny pickles (who doesn’t?) AND you love savory cocktails (yes, please!), you are going to go crazy over the Pickletini!
Why You’ll Love This Pickle Martini Recipe
- Dirtiest of the Dirty Martinis – We swap traditional olive brine with pickle juice for an extra dirty, tangy, and delightfully sour cocktail.
- Only 4 ingredients – Martinis might seem fancy, but they’re actually super easy to make with dill pickle juice, either gin or vodka, a “vermouth rinse”, and a pickle garnish.
- Conversation Starter – Pickletinis are a bright, perky, and fun addition to any cocktail party!
Garnish with pickles for fun, savory cocktails that will surely be a big “dill” at your next gathering.
Ingredients Notes and Variations
- Alcohol – Use your choice of gin or a vodka in this recipe. We prefer gin because the delicate pine and cucumber flavor mingle perfectly with the pickle brine.
- Pickles – We’re using dill pickle juice, which is sour and slightly sweet. Use sweet bread and butter pickle juice for sweeter cocktails with less brininess. Or bring the heat and use spicy or even chamoy pickle juice for some kick!
- Garnish – Swap perky pickle slices for cornichons, sweet pickles, garlic dill pickles, spicy pickles, or green olives for a more traditional dirty martini. You can also add a sprig of fresh dill if you like!
- Servings – This recipe makes one cocktail. Use our serving slider and the recipe card to adjust the recipe for as many cocktails as you desire.
Find the full Pickle Martini recipe with detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
What to Serve with Pickle Martinis
Garnish with several pickle slices on a toothpick, or add a single pickle sphere to each drink. You can even add fresh dill if you like!
Serve these trendy martinis with your favorite cocktail party snacks. The briny-ness is delicious with smoked cheese spread and angel eggs topped with salty capers. And you can really go with the pickle theme and also serve this irresistibly creamy dill dip!
Frequently Asked Questions
Most classic martinis are served with an olive. But dirty martinis also include some of the olive brine in the drink, which makes the liquid more cloudy.
By EXTRA dirty we mean there is more than just a small splash of the pickle brine in this recipe… We’re adding a whole 1/2 ounce of pickle juice (roughly half a shot) for bold pickle flavor.
Absolutely, yes! While it might sound like an odd combination at first, the tart pickle helps cut the sharp taste of vodka. And vice versa.
But as noted, we do prefer gin in our pickletinis. That’s because gin is already milder than vodka, with a floral flavor that balances the sour brine.
They do taste quite similar to a classic dirty martini… Olive and pickle jar brine are both salty, sour, and a bit savory. But the flavor of dill pickle is more herbaceous, fresh, and slightly sweet.
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Pickle Martini (Extra Dirty!)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 ½ ounce gin or vodka we prefer gin!
- ½ ounce dill pickle juice
- ¼ ounce dry vermouth
- Dill pickles for garnish slices or a spear
Instructions
- Set out a cocktail shaker and a martini glass. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour a scant amount of dry vermouth into the martini glass. Swirl the glass around for a “vermouth rinse” then pour the vermouth out of the glass leaving only the residue.
- Measure and pour the gin (or vodka) and dill pickle brine into the cocktail shaker. Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds.
- Using the strainer top, pour the martini into the martini glass.
- Garnish with several pickle slices on a toothpick, or a dill pickle spear.
Can’t wait to make this “picklelini”! I do not like gin but I love dirty martini’s with olive brine and vodka. I buy very good vodka and will make this, probably by just passing the top of the vermouth over the shaker!! Thanks for this great Easter recipe, Sommer. Sounds like something to take the edge off of being in the kitchen, cooking the traditional Easter dinner!
I didn’t think I’d love a pickle martini, but this one totally changed my mind. It’s perfectly balanced and so refreshing. Definitely keeping this on repeat!
As a die-hard pickle fan, this was everything I hoped for! Super bold and briny – my new go-to cocktail when I want something different and fun.