When it comes to building a great Dirty Martini, many swear by vodka for its neutral flavor profile that lets the brine shine. Diehard gin lovers, on the other hand, stick by their spirit across all Martini forms. But not all gins are meant to be dirtied. Some bring light, juniper qualities, whereas others are intense with other botanicals like citrus or florals taking the lead. The options run the gamut.
As Dirty Martinis grow more popular, some gin brands are embracing the trend with expressions crafted specifically with the savory cocktail in mind. With botanicals ranging from mustard seeds to handpicked seaweed, we rounded up the best savory gins best suited to mix up a great batch of Dirty Martinis. Grab your olive juice and one of these 10 gins, and your homespun Dirty ’Tinis will be all the better for it.
Murrell’s Row Spirits Gin Mignonette
Georgia-based Murrell’s Row Spirits launched its oyster-inspired Gin Mignonette in 2024, with botanicals like bay leaf, olive oil, and Vidalia onion. The result is a deeply earthy, salty spirit. Sweet nuances come in at the end — similar to the effect that vinegar has in a mignonette — but this gin is still perfectly suitable for a Dirty Martini, or better yet, an extra savory Gibson.
Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin
With experimental releases like Bloody Shiraz Gin, Australian producer Four Pillars is on the cutting edge of flavored gins. As such, it was ahead of the curve on the savory cocktail trend when it launched its Olive Leaf Gin in 2020. It’s made using three different types of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and olive leaf tea from a local estate alongside botanicals like rosemary, bay leaf, macadamia nuts, and lemon myrtle. The ensemble delivers an herbal, earthy edge that makes it a bartender favorite for complex Martini riffs.
Covalle Tomato-Water Gin
Brooklyn-based distillery Covalle makes its tomato-water gin with an aim of imitating the flavor and aroma of the sweet, in-season fruit’s juice. Tomatoes are rich in umami, and this gin mimics that funk-forward flavor. This is truly a one-of-a-kind gin, mixing savory and citrusy notes with a rich, mouth-coating texture.
James Gin American Mustard
James Gin may be a British distillery — and this expression may be titled American Mustard — but the aroma instantly recalls the sinus-clearing quality of French Dijon. Its taste does not fall short of what the name promises: Mustard, coriander, anise seed, and tangy relish notes fill the palate. While James Gin could have leaned into gimmickry with the mustard element, the first few sips reveal that this gin is serious, thoughtful, and deserving of the Martini treatment.
Hadder Oyster Fine de Claire Adriatic Gin
This maritime gin comes from Montenegro and sources flora from the Adriatic Sea — a segment of the Mediterranean — for its botanical mix. With juniper, black peppercorn, angelica root, and coriander, among others, Hadder Oyster Fine de Claire Adriatic Gin is one of a kind. For each perfumy, floral note, it delivers counterbalancing piney, resiny, and sea-salty qualities. Use it in a seafood-flavored Martini, and you’ll be sipping the ocean.
The Newfoundland Distillery Company Seaweed Gin
The Newfoundland Distillery Company’s Seaweed Gin goes all-in on brine. As the name suggests, locally sourced seaweed is the main botanical, with a mix of juniper and herbs to balance. Seaweed Gin is the distillery’s signature savory expression, making it perfect for a Dirty Martini with herbal and oceanic notes.
Fishers Fifty Gin
The U.K.’s Fishers Gin had Martinis in mind when crafting its “Fifty” bottling — named for its elevated 50 percent ABV. Fishers Gin sources its botanicals — a diverse set including coriander, angelica root, bog myrtle, rock samphire, wood avens, and spignel — from the salt marshes of the Suffolk coast, resulting in a spirit that balances bright herbs and a peppery bite. The finish is smooth and almost silky, which beautifully complements the mouth-coating effect of olive juice in a Dirty Martini.
An Dúlamán Gin
An Dúlamán is an Irish distillery that sits less than a mile from the Atlantic. That coastal proximity follows through to its liquid: The botanical mix includes five varieties of local seaweed. The result is a briny, umami-forward spirit. Don’t think its oceanic flavors lean funky, as this gin is entirely elegant.
Edinburgh Gin Seaside
Similar to An Dúlamán sourcing the botanicals for its gin from the Irish coast, Edinburgh Gin’s Seaside features flavors directly from Scottish beaches. Among the botanicals are scurvy grass, bladderwrack seaweed, and ground ivy. However, this gin tastes more of turf than it does surf: Its flavor leans more grassy than seaweed-y, perfectly complementing the verdant notes of an olive brine.
Citadelle ‘Vive le Cornichon’
Vive le Cornichon is part of Citadelle’s limited-edition “Les Excentriques” lineup. Among the 20 botanicals are hand-harvested French cornichons that develop its savory quality. Pickle flavors headline the palate, though floral nuances of juniper and herbs balance that bite. Consider this gin for a Dirty Martini made with cornichon or pickle juice instead of olives.
