Hot and Dirty Martini
Spice up your cocktail repertoire with this hot and dirty martini recipe, featuring homemade jalapeño vodka for an unforgettable kick. This bold twist on the classic martini combines the fiery zest of jalapeño-infused vodka with the briny depth of olive juice to create an invigorating and satisfying drink. Perfect for those who love their cocktails with a bit of heat, this jalapeño martini will ignite your taste buds and add a spicy flair to any occasion.

I’m very into spicy foods and drinks. Hubby is not. But even though he isn’t, I can still add spice to my dish to satisfy that taste for me.
I’ve mentioned in my homemade jalapeño vodka recipe that my niece turned me on to it. She makes martinis, though she uses peperoncini juice instead of olive brine. I chose not to go that route as I have some jalapeño stuffed olives that are simply delicious and the brine is spicy. So I used that juice, which gave the drink another fiery kick.
My niece also makes jalapeño lemonade, which I’ve had at her house, and it is scrumptious! I’m hoping to make that soon.
I’ve never infused gin with jalapeños but truthfully, vodka is the way to go because gin has so much going on with the botanicals.
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Helpful tips
- Adjust the heat by varying the amount of jalapeño vodka. Start with a small amount and taste as you go, adding more until you hit the perfect spiciness.
- Use high-quality olives for the dirty component, as the olive brine significantly influences the cocktail’s flavor. Consider trying different types of olives to see which you prefer. The The Pearl brand and Mezzetta are my favorites.
- Chill your martini glass in the freezer for at least 20 minutes before making the cocktail. A chilled glass will keep your martini colder for longer.
- When mixing your spicy martini, you can either shake like I do or stir briskly if you enjoy a clearer drink. Shaking can make the martini cloudy due to the small ice fragments, although some enjoy the slight dilution that comes from shaking.
- Garnish with a couple of olives on a martini pick or toothpick. I use one Pearl Brand martini olive and one jalapeno stuffed olive. This not only adds to the presentation but also gives a hint of what to expect in terms of flavor. I’ve also tried blue cheese-stuffed olives and garlic stuffed olives and they are great in this cocktail as well.
- Martinis are best served fresh. Once you’ve mixed your drink, serve it immediately to enjoy its full flavor and chill.
- Some people add a splash of Frank’s Redhot or some other hot sauce, but with the spicy vodka there is no need. And who likes a dirty red martini? Not me.
How to make a hot and dirty martini
Pre-step
Get out your cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Also, get out a measuring glass and your martini glasses.
After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the shaker.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – jalapeno vodka, dry vermouth, and a jar of olives for the brine.

Step two
Measure out 7 ounces of jalapeño vodka. (A)
Step three
Measure out 1 teaspoon of vermouth. (B)
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Step four
Measure out 1/2 ounce of olive brine. (C)
Step five
Get your olives (two per drink) and put them on a martini pick. (D)

Step six
Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds. Strain, divide, and pour the liquid into the martini glasses.
Add a martini pick to each glass.

Yum. And that fun green color comes from the infused vodka.

Delicious.
I hope you enjoyed this hot and dirty martini recipe. I certainly did.
Other popular martinis
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish.
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Hot and Dirty Martini
Ingredients
- 7 ounces jalapeño vodka
- 1 teaspoon dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce olive brine (I used the brine from jalapeno stuffed olives)
Garnish
- 4 olives (of your choice – 2 on each martini pick)
Instructions
- FIll a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and place two olives on each martini pick. Set aside.4 olives
- Add vodka, dry vermouth, and olive brine.7 ounces jalapeño vodka, 1 teaspoon dry vermouth, 1/2 ounce olive brine
- Cap your shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Or stir briskly for as long.
- Strain, divide, and pour the martini between the two glasses. Add one martini pick per cocktail.
- Sip, smile, and enjoy.
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Notes
Helpful tips
- Adjust the heat by varying the amount of jalapeño vodka. Start with a small amount and taste as you go, adding more until you hit the perfect spiciness.
- Use high-quality olives for the dirty component, as the olive brine significantly influences the cocktail’s flavor. Consider trying different types of olives to see which you prefer. The The Pearl brand and Mezzetta are my favorites.
- Chill your martini glass in the freezer for at least 20 minutes before making the cocktail. A chilled glass will keep your martini colder for longer.
- When mixing your spicy martini, you can either shake like I do or stir briskly if you enjoy a clearer drink. Shaking can make the martini cloudy due to the small ice fragments, although some enjoy the slight dilution that comes from shaking.
- Garnish with a couple of olives on a martini pick or toothpick. I use one Pearl Brand martini olive and one jalapeno stuffed olive. This not only adds to the presentation but also gives a hint of what to expect in terms of flavor. I’ve also tried blue cheese-stuffed olives and garlic stuffed olives and they are great in this cocktail as well.
- Martinis are best served fresh. Once you’ve mixed your drink, serve it immediately to enjoy its full flavor and chill.
- Some people add a splash of Frank’s Redhot or some other hot sauce, but with the spicy vodka there is no need. And who likes a dirty red martini? Not me.
Nutrition
From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.
So glad this is not made with gin. The spicy vodka was delicious.
Thanks so much, Gloria! I appreciate your comment.
This martini was incredibly flavorful with a nice kick as well. Thank you for sharing,.
Thanks, Moop.
This is my kind of martini! I love the spiciness and extra olive juice flavor. Making this again ASAP 🙂 Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Thanks so much, Kathryn. It’s a hit whenever I serve it.
This was awesome! Had a great kick.
Thank you, Amy!
This is all my favorite things combined into a cocktail! It did not disappoint! I will be sipping on this all summer!
I’m so glad to hear that, Katie. Thank you so much.
I got jalapeno vodka just for this recipe and yum! This martini was excellent. Will be making this again soon. Thanks!
Thank you, Erin! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Oh this was so good and spicy! I loved that there was no gin in this. That jalapeno kick was awesome!
I’m glad to hear that, Lori! It’s a favorite here in my house! Thank you.
What a perfect martini! I made these for a get together last night and they were the hit of the party.
Yay! I’m so glad. Thanks for letting me know, Dennis.
All my friends and I love spicy food so of course I had to make this martini! We loved the spice from the jalapeno vodka. It was just the right amount too. Thank you!
That’s awesome, Jamie. Thank you for coming back and letting me know what you thought.