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If your mouth doesn’t salivate when you see a bag of salt and vinegar chips, this is not the place for you – you can go check out my Cucumbertini instead 😉 But if you love the sharp, tangy, briny bite, you are going to be in love! Normally, my go-to is a Blue Cheese Dirty Martini, but this Salty Vinegartini recipe is seriously what I’ll be drinking all winter! I am a huge fan of a savory vodka cocktail and this one takes the cake!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love The Salty Vinegartini
If you love a filthy dirty martini, this Salty Vinegartini recipe is right up your alley. Normally dirty martinis rely on the brine taste from the olives alone, but this vodka cocktail recipe brings sharper, tangy notes paired with the umami taste from the MSG and it’s just a whole new level.
Prep Like a Pro
Chill It – Swirl that vermouth and pour it back in the bottle if you don’t want to waste any! Then place your glass immediately into the freezer for at least 15 minutes. An alcohol rinse is done so you can use a strong alcohol and get the aroma without overpowering the drink.
Shake it Vigorously – This isn’t a dainty shake. You are trying to make those ice crystals. It also counts as arm day 😉. If you’re in the market for an amazing shaker, I bought this Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Shaker, and I’m in love with it.
Skewer and Serve – Pour The Salty Vinegartini into the chilled glass. Skewer that adorable cornichon and place it in the glass. Enjoy!
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🔥Chef Nadia’s Tip🔥
- Shake this Salty Vinegartini for 60-90 seconds (non-negotiable). Doing this makes the perfect icicles and will elevate this vodka cocktail recipe to be even more epic.
- PS: I bought an Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Shaker that I swear by, since my old shaker exploded on me! It is on the pricey side, but if you like to make cocktails, it’s worth it. This shaker is leakproof and has an integrated jigger. It’s insulated so you shake it less, and there is a screw cap that won’t jam or explode 😉. It is also huge, so you can make more than one drink at a time!
Substitutions
- Vodka → If you prefer gin in your dirty martinis, you would probably love that in this Salty Vinegartini drink too. Feel free to swap it!
- Vinegar Powder → If vinegar is a bit strong for you, lemon or lime powder would also work.
- Cornichon → You can use Castelvetrano olives, pickled onion, or a pickled jalapeño slice instead.
- Vermouth → If you don’t have vermouth around but have some sherry, use that as your rinse.
The Perfect Pairings
Since we are drinking a dirty martini, we are going to stick with the bold for this. For your appetizer, this gorgeous Truffled Salmon and Hamachi Crudo will wow your guests. Your main will be a delicious Steak with Peppercorn Sauce and an Arugula Fennel Salad. And for dessert, my favorite thing to make for company is a Berry Panna Cotta.
The Salty Vinegartini: Questions Answered
MSG has long been surrounded by misconceptions that stem from some early studies that have been debunked. It is actually a flavor enhancer that naturally occurs in foods like tomatoes and cheese and is perfectly safe to eat.
For this martini, I used Chopin Potato Vodka. You can use your vodka of choice!
You don’t have to, but I recommend it. Shaking for at least 60 seconds creates icicles, and it makes the drink even more delicious.
You do an alcohol rinse so you can use a strong alcohol and get the aroma without overpowering the drink. I used Dolin Dry Vermouth, it adds a great aroma to this drink. You can skip this step if you would like.
The Salty Vinegartini
Equipment
- container for hot water
- cocktail glass
Ingredients
Vinegar Salt Brine
- 1 cup hot water
- ¾ tbsp kosher salt
- ½ tbsp msg, I don’t wanna hear it
- 2 ½ tbsp vinegar powder, adjust to taste
Martini
- 1 splash sweet vermouth, for a rinse, optional
- ice, to fill shaker
- 3 oz vodka
- 1 ½ oz brine, adjust to taste
- 1 cornichon, for garnish
Instructions
- Start by pouring a splash of vermouth into your glass, swoosh it around and pour it back into your vermouth bottle. Place the glass in the freezer.
- Vinegar Salt Brine (this is enough brine for about 5 cocktails) – Take 1 cup of hot water and mix in kosher salt, msg and vinegar powder. Stir until dissolved and let it cool for 15 minutes.
- Fill a shaker with ice and then add 3 oz vodka, 1 ½ oz of the vinegar salt brine (you can adjust this to taste, but I wanted it BRINY).
- Shake 60 seconds.
- Pour in your chilled glass, garnish with a cornichon and that is it.
Kitchen Cam
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
