What is a Dirty Martini? Obviously, referring to a dirty martini as the drink's "dark side" is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek joke. The "dirty" is a reference to the addition of olive brine or olive juice. This results in a somewhat cloudy, salty, olive-centric martini. It adds a bit of salinity to an otherwise very boozy cocktail. Directions. Step 1 Fill your cocktail shaker or tall glass with ice, and add your two alcohols. Step 2 Stir using a tall cocktail spoon for about 30 seconds. Step 3 Strain into a chilled martini Directions. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled and diluted, and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with olives on a cocktail pick. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★. ( 202 eQKRNsJ.