You are going to love this salt and vinegar martini. It is tangy, briny, and so easy to make at home. If you love a classic dirty martini, this savory cocktail is your new favorite drink.
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You’ll love this salt and vinegar martini
It tastes like your favorite snack in a glass. The chip-infused vodka brings that signature salty, tangy punch straight into your cocktail. It is a surprisingly fun and creative twist on a classic vodka martini.
The chip infusion is effortless. You only need 30 minutes and a handful of chips to transform plain vodka into something seriously special. No fancy equipment, no complicated steps.
It is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Whether you are making it for yourself on a Friday night or serving it at a cocktail party, this savory martini recipe always gets a reaction. People will ask you for the recipe, I promise!
Ingredients
Salt and Vinegar Chips. The star of the show! You will use these to infuse your vodka with that bold, tangy flavor. Any brand works, but I like using a kettle-cooked chip for extra flavor.
Plain Vodka. Use a clean, neutral vodka so the chip infusion really shines. I recommend reaching for something mid-shelf since you are not masking the vodka flavor here.
Olive Brine. This is what makes it a dirty martini. The olive brine adds a savory, salty depth that pairs perfectly with the vinegar notes.
Dry Vermouth. Just a splash goes a long way! Dry vermouth is a non-negotiable in any martini recipe, in my opinion. It rounds everything out.
How to make a salt and vinegar martini
- Infuse your vodka. Add ¼ cup of vodka with ¼ cup of salt and vinegar chips. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain your infused vodka.
- To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 oz of your infused vodka, 1 oz olive brine, and ½ oz of dry vermouth
- Shake vigorously until your hands are cold and your cocktail shaker is chilled.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish and enjoy!
Substitutions and variations
Swap the vodka for gin. If you are a gin lover, you can absolutely use gin here instead! A London Dry gin will add a botanical, herbal note that plays really nicely with the salty, acidic flavors. Note that the infusion works the same way.
Use pickle brine instead of olive brine. If you do not have olives on hand, dill pickle brine is a perfect substitute. It has a similar tangy, briny quality and doubles down on the cocktail's vinegar flavor. If you love a pickle martini, this variation is for you!
Try different chip flavors. Salt and vinegar are the classic choice, but do not be afraid to experiment! Sour cream and onion chips make for a more mellow, savory infusion. Jalapeño chips add a spicy kick that is incredible if you love a spicy martini.
Garnish ideas
- Salt and Vinegar Chip
- Olives
TIP: If you’re using a salt and vinegar chip, find a chip that’s folded over so you can just stick a cocktail pick through it!
How to make a big batch of this salt and vinegar martini
Hosting a party? This salt and vinegar martini is so easy to batch! Here is how to scale it up.
- To make a big batch, scale up your infusion. For every 8 servings, combine 2 cups of vodka with 2 cups of salt-and-vinegar chips. Let it infuse in the fridge for 30 minutes, then strain.
- Once your vodka is infused, combine it with the olive brine and dry vermouth in a large pitcher or jar. For 8 servings, use: 16 oz of infused vodka, 8 oz of olive brine, and 4 oz of dry vermouth.
- Keep the pitcher refrigerated until your guests arrive.
- When you are ready to serve, pour individual portions over ice in a cocktail shaker, give it a quick shake, and strain into martini glasses. Your guests get a properly chilled cocktail every time without you being stuck behind the bar all night!
FAQs
What does a salt and vinegar martini taste like?
It tastes like a really elevated dirty martini with a tangy, acidic punch. The chip-infused vodka delivers the bold salt-and-vinegar flavor you know from the snack, and the olive brine adds a savory, briny depth. It is sharp, salty, and seriously addictive. If you love savory cocktails, this one is for you.
Can I make the chip-infused vodka ahead of time?
Yes! You can infuse your vodka for up to 24 hours in advance and store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. Just make sure you have already strained out the chips before storing it. The flavor actually deepens a little with more time, so making it ahead is a great option if you are prepping for a party.
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Want more savory martinis?
Salt and Vinegar Martini
You are going to love this salt-and-vinegar martini. It is tangy, briny, and so easy to make at home. If you love a classic dirty martini, this savory cocktail is your new favorite drink.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup plain vodka
- ¼ cup salt and vinegar chips
- 2 oz infused vodka
- 1 oz olive brine
- ½ oz dry vermouth
Instructions
- Infuse your vodka. Add ¼ cup of vodka with ¼ cup of salt and vinegar chips. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain your infused vodka.
- To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 oz of your infused vodka, 1 oz olive brine, and ½ oz of dry vermouth
- Shake vigorously until your hands are cold and your cocktail shaker is chilled.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish and enjoy!
Notes
Substitutions and variations
Swap the vodka for gin. If you are a gin lover, you can absolutely use gin here instead! A London Dry gin will add a botanical, herbal note that plays really nicely with the salty, acidic flavors. Note that the infusion works the same way.
Use pickle brine instead of olive brine. If you do not have olives on hand, dill pickle brine is a perfect substitute. It has a similar tangy, briny quality and doubles down on the cocktail's vinegar flavor. If you love a pickle martini, this variation is for you!
Try different chip flavors. Salt and vinegar are the classic choice, but do not be afraid to experiment! Sour cream and onion chips make for a more mellow, savory infusion. Jalapeño chips add a spicy kick that is incredible if you love a spicy martini.
Garnish ideas
- Salt and Vinegar Chip
- Olives
TIP: If you’re using a salt-and-vinegar chip, find one that’s folded over so you can just stick a cocktail pick through it!
How to make a big batch of this salt and vinegar martini
Hosting a party? This salt and vinegar martini is so easy to batch! Here is how to scale it up.
- To make a big batch, scale up your infusion. For every 8 servings, combine 2 cups of vodka with 2 cups of salt-and-vinegar chips. Let it infuse in the fridge for 30 minutes, then strain.
- Once your vodka is infused, combine it with the olive brine and dry vermouth in a large pitcher or jar. For 8 servings, use: 16 oz of infused vodka, 8 oz of olive brine, and 4 oz of dry vermouth.
- Keep the pitcher refrigerated until your guests arrive.
- When you are ready to serve, pour individual portions over ice in a cocktail shaker, give it a quick shake, and strain into martini glasses. Your guests get a properly chilled cocktail every time without you being stuck behind the bar all night!
FAQs
What does a salt and vinegar martini taste like?
It tastes like a really elevated dirty martini with a tangy, acidic punch. The chip-infused vodka delivers the bold salt-and-vinegar flavor you know from the snack, and the olive brine adds a savory, briny depth. It is sharp, salty, and seriously addictive. If you love savory cocktails, this one is for you.
Can I make the chip-infused vodka ahead of time?
Yes! You can infuse your vodka for up to 24 hours in advance and store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. Just make sure you have already strained out the chips before storing it. The flavor actually deepens a little with more time, so making it ahead is a great option if you are prepping for a party.
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