Pickle Martini

What You’ll Need

As I mentioned above, the ingredients list for this pickle martini is short (but not sweet – ha!). Scroll down to the printable recipe card to find the exact ingredient quantities and full recipe instructions.

• Vodka – I use a mid-range, well-rated vodka like Tower Vodka or Tito’s. If you’d like, you can use gin instead.
• Pickle juice – I use Claussen Kosher Dill Spears for the juice and garnish. For a more assertive dill pickle flavor, I recommend Grillo’s Classic Dill Pickle Spears – and I use only an ounce of pickle juice.
• Extra dry vermouth – “Extra dry” vermouth is an absolute must for me, with a much more savory profile. Even “dry” vermouth is too sweet in my opinion, and it lends an odd flavor to the drink.
• Pickle spear and fresh dill – For garnish. Because cocktails should be pretty and fun!

How to Make a Pickle Martini

Here’s a visual step-by-step to show you how to shake up your own pickle martinis.

• Chill the glasses (optional). For the most refreshing cocktail, set your martini glass in the freezer for 10 minutes before making this drink. This will give it a nice chill and keep your pickle martini icy cold. I highly recommend this step!
• Mix. Combine the vodka, pickle juice, and vermouth in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to half-full, then cover and shake for 30 seconds. 

• Pour. Strain the martini into the chilled martini glass.
• Finish. Add a pickle spear and sprig of fresh dill for garnish, then serve.

A Few Tips + A Variation

I’ve got a few more notes on this pickle martini recipe:

• Heed my “extra dry” vermouth warning. Just in case you missed it, I highly recommend seeking out extra dry vermouth. It simply provides the best savory profile for this cocktail.
• Shake for a full 30 seconds. Like, actually count to 30 in your head. (One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi…) Why? Because when you’re shaking, 30 seconds is a lot longer than you think! The vigorous shake is essential to a good martini – chilling, diluting, and aerating it to refreshing perfection.
• Get bonus points for using homemade pickles. Whenever I have homemade Dill Pickles on hand, you can bet that I’m using the pickles and juice in this drink!
• Make it extra pickle-y. If you want more pure pickle goodness, make this pickle martini the way our oldest daughter does: skip the vermouth and use equal parts vodka and pickle juice.

What to Serve With Pickle Martinis

A pickle martini is well-suited for serving with appetizers, and I can’t imagine a more perfect pairing than with this Reuben Dip, with its rich, savory flavor. Bagna Cauda, Grilled Shrimp Cocktail, and a Holiday Charcuterie Board would be fantastic too.

But if you want to lean into the pickle-of-it-all, then go with some equally pickle-y recipes like my Fried Pickles, Pickle Pizza, or Pickle Roll Ups. Where are you, my pickle-lover friends?!

A Note About Making a Big Batch

If you want to make these pickle martinis for a party, the purest, most true-to-the-original way to make them is to shake them up one-by-one. Here’s what I recommend:

1. Scale up the recipe according to how many drinks you want to serve. For example, if you want to make six pickle martinis, you’d need 12 ounces of vodka, 9 ounces of pickle juice, and 3 ounces of extra dry vermouth – plus 6 pickle spears and 6 dill sprigs.
2. Measure the vodka, pickle juice, and vermouth into a pitcher, one to two hours prior to guests arriving. Place the pitcher in the fridge to chill.
3. Place glasses in the freezer, if you have the space, up to an hour before guests arrive.
4. Shake it up! Once guests arrive, give the pitcher a stir to incorporate. Then pour 4 ounces of the mixture into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for a full 30 seconds, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with a pickle slice and fresh dill. Who wants the next drink?! (Repeat, until all drinks are made. Be sure to use fresh ice with each drink.)