The Memory Keep
A masterclass in the dirty martini, this drink centers on an intensely savory, house-pressed olive brine to elevate a botanical gin base.
mostly unattended — the clock does the work
Reverse-engineered from The Gilded Pivot · London
Ingredients
for 2 servings
- 60 mlLondon Dry Gin
- 15 mlSweet Vermouth
- 10Green Olives — pitted
- 50 mlWater
- 1 sliceLemon — thinly slicedoptional
- 5 mlDry Vermouth
Equipment
checked against your kitchen
- ✓stovetop
What cooks learned
Only 3 cooks have logged this one in Cook Mode so far — not enough to say anything about where it goes wrong.
Method
- 1
Place the pitted green olives and water in a small saucepan.
15 min · 2 min attentionDone when: liquid is hot and smelling of brine
→ olive brine
- 2
Simmer the olives in the water to extract flavor.
10 min · 1 min attention⏱ liquid has turned slightly cloudy and savory · 10 minDone when: liquid has turned slightly cloudy and savory
→ olive brine
- 3
Remove from heat and let the olive brine cool completely.
10 min · 1 min attention→ olive brine
- 4
Combine London Dry Gin, Sweet Vermouth, and 30ml of the cooled olive brine in a mixing glass.
2 min · 1 min attention - 5
Add the remaining 20ml of olive brine and the Dry Vermouth to the gin mixture.
1 min - 6
Stir the mixture with large ice cubes until very cold and slightly diluted.
2 min - 7
Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an olive and a lemon slice.
1 min