The salty, olive-soaked Dirty Martini is gaining traction, and gin producers are starting to respond. A spirits writer’s latest collection points to 10 savory gins designed for the cocktail. The roundup covers gin infused with mustard seeds, seaweed, and pickles — all of which push the spirit toward its savory side.
Not all gins share the same character when it comes to Dirty Martinis. Some lean toward lighter, juniper-driven profiles, while others carry intense notes from other botanicals such as citrus or florals. The range of choices is wide, and the writer has worked through them to single out the best picks for a homemade Dirty ‘Tini.
Murrell’s Row Spirits Gin Mignonette
Gin Mignonette from Georgia-based Murrell’s Row Spirits was introduced in 2024. It draws its inspiration from oysters, and its botanical ingredients include bay leaf, olive oil, and Vidalia onion. The spirit delivers a rich, salty character with earthy undertones, which the writer likens to the effect vinegar has in a mignonette. The finish carries sweet notes, making it a perfect fit for a Dirty Martini or an extra savory Gibson.
Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin
Four Pillars, an Australian producer of experimental releases such as Bloody Shiraz Gin, has released Olive Leaf Gin. It was launched in 2020, and it blends three kinds of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil with olive leaf tea from a local estate. The gin also carries rosemary, bay leaf, macadamia nuts, and lemon myrtle. Together, these ingredients give the spirit an herbal, earthy edge that makes it a bartender favorite for complex Martini riffs.
Covalle Tomato-Water Gin
Covalle is a Brooklyn distiller whose tomato-water gin aims to recreate the taste and smell of freshly picked tomatoes. Tomatoes carry a lot of umami, and this spirit borrows that deep, savory quality. The gin blends savory and citrusy flavors with a full, coating texture that sets it apart from other spirits.
James Gin American Mustard
This British distillery makes a spirit called American Mustard, which borrows the sinus-clearing quality of French Dijon. Its scent brings to mind Dijon, while the flavor answers to the name: it tastes of mustard, coriander, anise seed, and tangy relish. A few sips show a serious, considered gin that earns the Martini treatment.
Hadder Oyster Fine de Claire Adriatic Gin
The gin hails from Montenegro and draws its botanicals from the Adriatic Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean. Its list of ingredients includes juniper, black peppercorn, angelica root, and coriander. The spirit blends fragrant floral aromas with piney, resinous, and briny flavors. Pour it into a seafood-flavored Martini, and you’re drinking the ocean itself.
The Newfoundland Distillery Company Seaweed Gin
The Newfoundland Distillery Company’s Seaweed Gin goes all-in on brine. Locally sourced seaweed is the main botanical, balanced with juniper and herbs. 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 crafted its “Fifty” bottling with Martinis in mind, named for its elevated 50 percent ABV. It sources its botanicals — coriander, angelica root, bog myrtle, rock samphire, wood avens, and spignel — from the salt marshes of the Suffolk coast. 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 located within a mile of the Atlantic Ocean. It uses a botanical blend containing five kinds of local seaweed. The finished spirit carries a briny, umami-forward character while staying entirely elegant, despite those oceanic flavors.
Edinburgh Gin Seaside
The seaside flavors in Edinburgh Gin’s Seaside come straight from Scottish shores, with scurvy grass, bladderwrack seaweed, and ground ivy all contributing to the mix. Yet the gin’s taste stays more earthy than oceanic; it reads as grassy rather than seaweed-y, which suits the green notes of an olive brine just right.
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. The writer considers this gin for a Dirty Martini made with cornichon or pickle juice instead of olives.
The Absurdity Is the Point
Citadelle’s Vive le Cornichon stands out among the entries, a gin centered on pickles that pairs perfectly with a Dirty Martini made from pickle juice rather than olives. This kind of absurd specificity is precisely what makes spirits writing enjoyable.
A broad selection of spirits built for savory cocktails is on display. Brands are experimenting with botanicals like mustard, seaweed, and pickles, adding depth to the classic Martini formula. The collection rewards drinkers who want more than the standard gin-and-vermouth pairing.
The roundup shows that the Dirty Martini has moved past its days as a vodka-only drink. Gin now stands its ground in a brine-soaked glass, and these 10 gins prove it. Drinkers have plenty of choices to think about.
This collection serves as a handy guide for those looking to buy a new bottle, pointing readers toward the botanicals that shape each spirit and offering ideas for how to put them to use. No matter whether you prefer earthy, herbal depth or a straight-up umami kick, there is a gin on this list that suits your taste.
The writer believes the trend is genuine. With Dirty Martinis gaining popularity, gin producers are leaning into the savory side by developing expressions designed expressly for the cocktail. The evidence is on the shelf: 10 savory gins that are all the better for it.
| Gin | Botanical Focus | Year Launched |
|---|---|---|
| Murrell’s Row Gin Mignonette | Oysters, bay leaf, olive oil, Vidalia onion | 2024 |
| Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin | Three cold-pressed olive oils, olive leaf tea | 2020 |
| Covalle Tomato-Water Gin | Tomato water | Not stated |
| James Gin American Mustard | Mustard, coriander, anise seed, relish | Not stated |
| Hadder Oyster Fine de Claire Adriatic Gin | Juniper, black peppercorn, angelica root, coriander | Not stated |
| Newfoundland Distillery Company Seaweed Gin | Seaweed, juniper, herbs | Not stated |
| Fishers Fifty Gin | Coriander, angelica root, bog myrtle, rock samphire, wood avens, spignel | Not stated |
| An Dúlamán Gin | Five kinds of local seaweed | Not stated |
| Edinburgh Gin Seaside | Scurvy grass, bladderwrack seaweed, ground ivy | Not stated |
| Citadelle ‘Vive le Cornichon’ | Hand-harvested French cornichons | Limited-edition “Les Excentriques” |
The ten gins cover a range of savory notes:
- Umami from tomato-water gin
- Earthy, herbal depth from olive leaf and mustard gins
- Briny, oceanic character from seaweed and Adriatic gins
- Pickle flavors from Vive le Cornichon
Drinkers can choose based on what they want most from their next Dirty Martini.
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