It’s Dirty Martini Summer, Here’s Where To Drink Them
Words: Maggie Fagan
Hero Image: Al Higgins
Lads, we’re calling it, it’s officially Dirty Martini Summer, and it’s only taken about 3 years to fully take effect. Sadly, tomato martinis didn’t quite hit Ireland like we wanted them to, but at least we have our trusty briny saline pal – the dirty martini.
Savory drinks are where it’s at – and we’re increasingly seeing variants of the OG drink come up on our FYPs. We’ve been big fans since we could legally drink so we know our way around the good ones. Here are the bars that are firmly in rotation when we need a filthy, durrrty, martini.
Coppinger, Coppinger Row
Coppinger have just launched a steak and martini Sunday feast, and honestly they’ve picked the best drink of them all to put on special. They use Dingle gin / vodka and serve them ice cold and as filthy as you want. Usually €15, on Sundays you can get them for the rock bottom price of €10. Ok maybe Sunday isn’t the best day to get lit on straight vodka, but you know what they say – don’t hate the drink, hate your self-control. (Spoiler, we have barely any when it comes to martinis).
Note, Fenian Street
Note might not be the first place you think of when it comes to cocktails – they’re clearly a restaurant first and wine bar second. But let us let you in on a little secret – they do some of the best dirty martinis around. Impressively, they source their gin / vodka from Stillgarden – who have made a unique blend just for them. Shaken with olive brine of the gordal variety, they are strained into pre frozen glasses. Use this post as an excuse to book another visit.
The Sackville Lounge, Sackville Place
One of the most goated cocktail bars in the city, you know these guys are going to do a good job at nailing our beloved. Their Sackville Martini is a twist on the classic, served with Boatyard gin, salted apricot, oregano, and black pepper. A savoury and sharp sharpener, it will make you temporarily forget about olives. Of course, you can always order the OG. You do you honey boo.
Hang Dai, Camden Street
My oh my does Hang Dai do a soild dirty martini. Their signature is the Filthy Gorgeous. Sign us up. Described as dirty, slutty, and nasty, it contains An Dulaman Maritime gin [or] Ketel One vodka,
seaweed infused Dolin vermouth, olive brine, and sushi vinegar. Lads, this martini lives up to the name indeed and is both filthy, and gorgeous. Sit outside, order a couple of these, and bask in the concept of freewill.
The Sitting Room at Delahunt, Camden Street
Using Gin Mare or Grey Goose (slay), The Sitting Room at Delahunt are one of our favourite spots to drink the tears of god. They keep these bottles ice cold at –5° meaning no dilution, resulting in silky, salty, dangerous carry on altogether. They also do mini versions, which is actually so cute, and the perfect gateway portion to get your non dirty martini friends to become your dirty martini friends.
Daphni, Bolands Mills
New-ish cocktail bar on the block Daphi are part of the Animal Collective who are known for taking their drinks very seriously indeed. Daphi’s dirty martini takes things to higher heights. Using Boatyard gin/vodka, they stir (not shake) theirs with an in house hay and rosemary smoked olive brine. If you needed an excuse to check this place out, this is your divine sign.
The Glass Curtain, Cork City
Our friends below in the Rebel County deserve a serious mention. I must confess I have dined at The Glass Curtain many times for their Cashel Blue Dirty Martini alone. Tom at the bar is a martini wizard and he shakes his up with an gordal olive in the shaker (to get things really dirty), along with the brine, Noilly Prat, and Blackwater – a gin that’s a bit more subtle on the juniper, letting the olives really shine. Each olive is stuffed to the brim with Cashel Blue cheese which puts this dirty martini into 5th gear. We wouldn’t expect anything less from the unofficial food capital of Ireland.
