There have been countless iterations of the Martini since the mid-19th century. Though in its early days, the co*cktail was much sweeter than what we know today — with syrups and even cherries added to the mix — it wasn’t until decades later that olives became synonymous with Martinis.
As the story goes, New York bartender John O’Connor was playing around with ingredients for a dry Martini one night in 1901. Searching through items around the bar, he added an olive and brine to the drink, creating what we now know as a Dirty Martini.
During Prohibition, gin gained popularity as the easiest spirit to produce under the newly proposed 18th Amendment. Americans began experimenting at home, making simple co*cktails like the Martini with higher amounts of gin, as that’s what was available at the time.
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Despite the Martini’s rapid rise in the co*cktail scene, olives were never formally used in the recipe until 1930, when G.H. Steele authored “My New co*cktail Book,” which featured a drink entitled “Perfect, à la Hyland.” Suspiciously similar to the classic Martini, this co*cktail consisted of gin, vodka, vermouth, and a half-teaspoon of olive brine.
By the time Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the gin in an average Martini heavily out-ratioed vermouth. What the drink needed was a simple garnish that could soak up the spirit.
FDR, who repealed Prohibition, regarded the Dirty Martini as his go-to drink: 2:1 gin and vermouth, olive brine, and an olive to top it off — a variation he would later introduce to other famous leaders such as Winston Churchil and Joseph Stalin. Olives and Martinis have gone hand in hand ever since.
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.
An unspoken superstition deems an even number of olives bad luck. Like avoiding a black cat in an alleyway, most seasoned bartenders will only serve Martinis with one or three olives (never two or four). The origins of this superstition remain a mystery, but are adamantly followed.
“High tradition dictates that you must use an odd number of olives. One olive is fine; so are three (five is excessive). Using two or four olives is a faux pas,” writes Brad Gadberry in the famed “Martini FAQ.”
Some point to an Italian superstition, which considers anything served in even numbers “bad hospitality and unlucky.” Coffee beans in Sambuca and Espresso Martinis are always served in threes, so perhaps the Martini follows suit with olives.
Either way, the Martini has cemented its legacy in co*cktail culture alongside its most notable garnish: the olive. And as the wise Trapper John explained on “M*A*S*H“: “You really can’t savor a Martini without an olive, you know. You see otherwise, it just doesn’t… quite… make it.”
Published: August 20, 2021
FAQs
If you're the superstitious type, you may want to know that tradition states that serving olives in even numbers is bad luck. So one or three olives are great, but two? Not so much. Also, many martini co*cktail lovers like to have a salty snack to eat throughout their co*cktail, from first sip to last drop.
What is the rule about olives in a martini? ›
Two olives, she explained, is bad luck. A Martini must have either one or three olives. This was news to me. But a little research confirmed that this superstition did indeed exist.
What is the two martini rule? ›
In certain martini venues, the “two martini rule” is observed. Once you have consumed two, you must move on to a soft drink, such as wine or a gin and tonic.
What is a martini without olives called? ›
As far as garnishes go, a standard martini has an olive as a garnish. You can order yours “with a twist,” though, which replaces the olive with a twist of lemon peel. If you want your martini with no garnish at all, order it “clean.”
What is a martini with an olive called? ›
The dirty martini has a pleasant saltiness that is fascinating against the gin and dry vermouth background. "Dirty" simply refers to the addition of olive juice or brine. It's a classic co*cktail that is very easy to mix up and one of the most popular variations on the original gin martini.
How do you order a martini if you hate olives? ›
Ordering your Martini with a twist will ensure that you receive a lemon peel as garnish, and indicates to the bartender that they should skip the olive.
Should I eat the olive in a martini? ›
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.
Do olives go in a gin or vodka martini? ›
However, while many bartenders default to gin as the ideal option for a standard Martini, many find vodka to be the better choice for a Dirty Martini. This is because the spirit's more neutral profile allows the olive brine to shine more prominently, without getting muddled by gin's heavier botanicals.
What is a $100 martini? ›
Presenting the $100 martini. Originally created at El Gaucho Tacoma, it is now only served here in Seattle. This exceptional libation features Beluga Gold Line Vodka, Hennessy Paradis Imperial Cognac, Grand Marnier 100, garnished with orange twist.
What does it mean when you ask for a martini extra dirty? ›
An extra dirty martini co*cktail contains a generous portion of olive brine. The “dirty” part of a Dirty Martini co*cktail relates to the olive ingredients, and “extra dirty” just means more olive flavor, like in the Dirtiest Martini co*cktail.
When it is a reverse martini, which is sometimes called an upside-down martini or wet martini. The recipe for this tempting co*cktail reverses the standard ratios by combining one part gin to five parts extra-dry (white) vermouth, garnished with an enlivening twist of lemon.
What does James Bond say about martinis? ›
"Shaken, not stirred" is how Ian Fleming's fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond prefers his martini co*cktail. The catchphrase first appears in the novel Diamonds Are Forever (1956), though Bond himself does not actually say it until Dr.
What did Dorothy Parker say about martinis? ›
I like to have a martini, two at the very most --After. three I'm under the table, After four, I'm under my. host." Dorothy Parker.
How did Sean Connery like his martini? ›
Gin Martini
But it was very much Sean Connery in Dr. No ordering the vodka martini, 'shaken not stirred' with that signature pronunciation that made this Bond's drink.
How many olives are you supposed to put in a martini? ›
An unspoken superstition deems an even number of olives bad luck. Like avoiding a black cat in an alleyway, most seasoned bartenders will only serve Martinis with one or three olives (never two or four). The origins of this superstition remain a mystery, but are adamantly followed.
Why is there an odd number of olives in a martini? ›
When making a martini, one must use either one or three olives, basically only an odd number of olives. The cardinal rule follows that olives will not be used in even numbers because it spells bad luck. While the origins of this superstition are difficult to trace, it is a belief followed by bartenders without fuss.
How many olives are in a James Bond martini? ›
Instead, drop four green olives into the base of a three-piece co*cktail shaker. Lorincz likes to use the Nocellara del Belice olive variety from Sicily. “They are not too salty, with a soft and light vegetable taste and good texture.” Crush them with a muddler to extract their flavour.
How do you order a martini with extra olives? ›
A dirty martini will automatically come with olives as it's a martini made to look “dirty” with olive juice. An extra dirty martini just means more olive juice. Some bars drop the olive or olives loose into the martini glass and some put the olives on a co*cktail spear before dropping them in.
