Ever since including olives from Fragata in our March 2022 Gin of the Month box, we have been obsessed with using them in our gin cocktails. Plump, fragrant and sumptuously savoury, they are the perfect match for the rich, complex medley of juniper notes that can usually be found in craft gins.

It’s no wonder they have become a classic cocktail ingredient synonymous with the martini and its variations. However, martinis are not the only place to find olives in your cocktails.

What does the olive do in a cocktail?

Olives are used to add savoury notes to cocktails. Their aromatic, slightly bitter and often slightly salty profile (depending on whether they have been brined or not and if they have been seasoned with any other flavourings at all) is a great match for spirits like gin and vodka, the distinctive olive flavour complementing the complexity of the spirits wonderfully.

What drinks are good with olives?

We have picked three of our favourite gin cocktails that use olives that we think any gin fan will love - you have probably heard of at least one of these already! Scroll down to discover them all.

3 fantastic olive cocktails:

1. Dirty Martini

This is the quintessential olive-based cocktail recipe. Made with gin, dry vermouth and a touch of olive brine (the more brine, the dirtier it gets), this is the ultimate savoury gin cocktail.

What kind of olives do you put in a Dirty Martini? Green olives are traditionally used in a Dirty Martini and we recommend sticking with those for your first attempt at this recipe. After that, it can be fun (and delicious!) to experiment with other varieties of olives depending on your preference.

50ml gin (we recommend a London Dry like Occitan London Dry Gin)
25ml dry vermouth (we recommend Londinio Dry Vermouth)
10ml olive brine
Green olives, to garnish

Add the gin, vermouth and olive brine to a stirring glass or shaker with lots of ice. Stir well and then strain into a martini glass. Garnish, serve and enjoy!

2. Red Snapper

The Red Snapper is a gin-based take on the Bloody Mary, which is a cocktail made with Vodka. It mixes gin with tomato juice, Tabasco, a touch of lemon and a hit of Worcestershire sauce. Seasoned with salt and pepper, it lends itself very well to savoury garnishes like olives, celery and ever streaky bacon or prawns if you really want to add a little “wow factor”.

What kind of olives do you put in a Red Snapper cocktail? Here, it really is down to personal taste. The versatility of the cocktail makes it great for using flavoured olives like Fragata’s Olive Oil, Garlic & Thyme edition or Olive Oil & Sea Salt edition (either of which could be found in our March 2022 box!).

50ml gin (a good London Dry works great here)
75ml tomato juice
10ml Worcestershire sauce
20ml lemon juice
A dash of Tabasco (add more if you prefer a spicier drink)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olives, to garnish (along with your choice of additions)

Add all of the ingredients, apart from the garnishes, to a shaker or stirring glass and stir with lots of ice. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish, serve and enjoy!

3. Gin & Aperol Spritz

Ok, so this one may come as a surprise, but an olive is a fantastic addition to an Aperol Spritz, especially if you have a measure of gin mixed in there too - we love a Gin & Aperol Spitz here at Craft Gin Club! The olive adds a gorgeous contrast to the delectably bitter citrus flavours of the cocktail that is completely moreish.

What kind of olives do you put in an Aperol Spritz? Green olives are the ones to go for here. Their aromatic fragrance imbues the cocktail with new levels of mouthwatering complexity.

50ml gin (we recommend a London Dry or a less-sweet pink gin like Salcombe Gin Rosé Sainte Marie)
50ml Aperol
Prosecco, to top
Olive, to garnish
Fresh orange slice, to garnish

Add your ingredients to wine or Copa glass with lots of ice and stir. Garnish, serve and enjoy!

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