The Ice Cube Hack Dirty Martini Lovers Swear By

The cold, briny glow-up your cocktail deserves.

If your summer vibe is 50% poolside and 50% “extra dirty, please,” this one’s for you.

Dirty martinis are having a moment right now—and not the quiet kind. We’re talking blue cheese-stuffed olives stacked like kabobs, anchovy-infused vermouth, and TikToks dedicated to the art of making the "dirtiest martini humanly possible." But amid all the bold takes and bar cart acrobatics, there's one simple trick that’s low effort, high reward—and your ice cube tray is the secret weapon.

Enter: olive brine ice cubes. Yes, freezing your olive juice. It might sound like something your brunch-loving friend would drunkenly dream up at 2 a.m., but trust—this is one hack that delivers. Why? Because a martini should be ice cold, but not watered down. Regular ice dilutes your cocktail. Olive brine cubes? They melt and make it dirtier as you sip. It’s genius. It’s easy. It’s downright delicious.

Here’s how to do it (and look like a cocktail savant):

1. The Classic Dirty: Pour leftover olive brine from the jar straight into your ice cube tray. Freeze. Done. These cubes will deepen the briny flavor as they melt—and they’ll make you wonder how you ever tolerated regular ice.

2. Dial It Down (Or Up): Prefer a gentler sip? Mix the brine with a little water before freezing. Want to go rogue? Try a 50/50 mix of olive brine and dry vermouth. It’s the cocktail cube equivalent of “wet and dirty”—and yes, that’s a thing.

Level-Up with Garnish Cubes: Drop an olive (or two) into each cube slot before freezing for a little flair. Use a silicone tray with small, round molds if you want bite-sized cubes that melt faster—and give you a snack at the end.

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For a seriously funky twist, don’t miss this blue cheese dirty martini hack.

Feeling fancy?

You can customize this hack however your cocktail-loving heart desires. Add a splash of anchovy vermouth, toss in capers, or even try a chili-infused brine if you like a kick. Think of your freezer as your new martini lab.

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Bottom line: Your ice cube tray isn’t just for boring water cubes anymore. It’s a flavor powerhouse. A tiny freezer hero. A way to keep your martini cold, salty, and sexy till the very last sip.

So the next time you say “extra dirty,” know you actually mean it.