The New Viral Way to Make a Dirty Martini 10x Better

I never really got into Martinis—too fancy, too strong too "not me." But now that I’m a little older (and a tad more adventurous), I think it’s time to give them a proper chance. Plus, Martinis are everywhere lately! From dirty variations to dessert-like espresso creations, they’re trending hard and I must admit that they look pretty irresistible. Maybe it’s the sleek glasses or the briny olives perched on a toothpick, but I’m intrigued by the drink.

In 2024, the Dirty Martini seemed to be popping up everywhere. A classic Dirty mMartini is made with gin or vodka, dry vermouth and a splash of olive brine for a salty, savory kick. Typically garnished with green olives, it’s a cocktail loved for its complex flavor, and content creators and bartenders everywhere took on the challenge to make these—well, dirtier.

Last year brought us martinis with pickle-brine twists and Dolly Parton's Dirt Road Martini (featuring iced tea) and the latest viral dirty drink might leave you wondering if things have gotten a little too dirty—or is it just plain delicious?

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What is the Olive Garden Martini?

Olive Garden's Caesar Salad is fresh and flavorful, with crisp romaine lettuce tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing. The salad is topped with crunchy croutons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, adding the perfect balance of texture and richness.

The signature touch comes with Olive Garden's house-made dressing, which combines tangy, garlicky and slightly zesty notes—and those bold flavors are the newest Dirty Martini variation to take social media by storm.

The Olive Garden Martini is attributed to TikTok user Alessandra Pizzorni and it is a sight to behold. She adds dressing to the drink and shakes it up, creating a creamy, tangy take on the Dirty Martini. She also goes all out with the garnishes to play up the Italian salad vibes.

Note to wacky Martini lovers: Pizzorni has many other creative Martini variations on her TikTok feed, including a sushi Martini, a Chick-fil-A version and a Shrimp Scamptini.

Related: The 28 Best Copycat Olive Garden Recipes

How to Make an Olive Garden Martini

To make this zesty cocktail, start by spraying your Martini glass with vermouth and freezing it. Next, shake ice-cold gin (or vodka) with two kinds of olive brine (garlic and Manzanilla), some Olive Garden Italian dressing and a shake of Italian seasoning.

Pour it into the glass, which magically has a grated Parmesan rim when it shows back up on-camera. For garnish, add a toothpick threaded with an cherry tomato (or is that a small pickled pepper?), a small piece of lemon, a chunk of Parmesan cheese and a stuffed green olive.

But wait, there's more! Pizzorni adds a sprinkle of black pepper, a dash more dressing (!), a few drops of olive oil and some croutons to the drink before serving.

Related: Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup 

What People Are Saying About the Olive Garden Martini

As you might expect, this drink is polarizing. For some, this seems like a dream come true, but for others, it's too much. Some even said it's basically "spiked salad dressing."

If you want to enjoy a salad in a cup, why not grab a Boody Mary, instead? If you don't like tomatoes, though, and you want all the fanfare and extras, this dirty martini is a great alternative.

As for me, I think I'd like it! I love a full, spicy, robust Bloody Mary, so I think this drink would give me the complex flavors and the fun I want in a drink. I'm going to give this one a try!

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