Limoncello Dirty Martini
Hailing from sunny southern Italy, limoncello is made by infusing a neutral spirit with lemon peel and then sweetening it with sugar. In Italy it is served in very small glasses as an aperitif or digestif. Paired with vermouth, it makes a delicious savory cocktail.
Ingredients
- 4 lemon twists
- 4 green olives
- 2 fl. oz. limoncello
- 8 fl. oz. vodka
- 2 fl. oz. extra-dry vermouth
- 1 fl. oz. green olive brine
- Ice, as needed
Directions
Wrap each lemon twist around an olive and fasten with a toothpick. Chill 4 martini glasses in the freezer until frosted.
In a glass pitcher, combine the limoncello, vodka, vermouth and olive brine. Fill the pitcher one-half to three-fourths full with ice and stir until very cold. Strain into the chilled glasses, garnish each drink with a lemon twist-olive and serve. Makes 4 drinks.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma On the Grill, by Willie Cooper (Oxmoor House, 2009).