This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
Gin and Brine is a cool summer cocktail made with fermented dilly pickle brine, celery bitters and your choice of gin. Full of probiotics- it’s a fun twist on a dirty martini- savory and herbaceous.
This Gin and Brine is for those of you who love dirty martinis- or love taking shots of fermented pickle brine. We’ve been making fermented pickles again this summer and love drinking shots of the salty probiotic-rich brine.
Somehow my body loves the salty tangy flavor, especially when it’s hot. So this is how this cocktail came to be.
What you’ll need:
- Gin
- Pickle Brine
- Celery Bitters
- Optional Additions: Cucumber, dill, Vermouth.
How to make a Gin and Brine Cocktail
It’s pretty easy and I’m sure all you craft cocktail folks will put your creative spin on it. I think it would be nice with a fennel-infused ice cube, but I am feeling hot and lazy today….
- If adding cucumber, muddle a few slices in a shaker.
- Pour 2 parts brine and 1 part gin into and ice filled shaker.
- Add fresh dill if you like.
- Add a small splash of celery bitters and optional dry vermouth
- Shake and strain into a glass with a large ice cube.
I love using large ice cubes here, because they melt slowly in the summer heat.
Enjoy the Gin and Brine and let us know what you think in the comments below.
More cocktails you may like:
- The Orange Blossom Cocktail
- The Verdant Garden Cocktail
- Dry Gin Martini
- Blueberry Gin and Sage Punch
- Blackberry Bramble Cocktail
- Meyer Lemon Gimlet with Thyme Simple Syrup

Gin and Brine
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: cocktail
- Method: shaken or stirred
- Cuisine: American
Description
Gin and Brine is a cool summer cocktail made with fermented dilly pickle brine, celery bitters and your choice of gin. Full of probiotics- it’s a fun twist on a dirty martini- savory and herbaceous.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces gin
- 3 ounces flavorful pickle brine- see notes
- splash celery bitters
- optional additions: splash vermouth, dill, a couple of slices of cucumber.
Instructions
If using cucumber and dill, muddle these in a shaker. Add a handful of ice, gin, brine and bitters.
Shake and taste. Add more gin to taste.
Strain into a large martini glass with a large ice cube.
Notes
The pickle brine is key to the flavor here. Remember that brine is from fermented pickles (not vinegar pickles). I used ours from this fermented pickle recipe or find in the refrigerator section of your grocery store. I also like this brine from brand Grillos Pickles, available at Costco and Whole foods- it has dill in it. 😉
If making more than one cocktail- the ratio is one part gin, to two parts pickle brine. It is best served over ice.
Keywords: Dirty Martini, Gin and Brine, Gin martini, gin cocktail, gin drinks,
Hi Sylvia ,
This sounds incredibly good . So good I want to serve it at our wedding . Is the brine very garlicky , should I leave a few out .
Thx Elle
A little. If you make the brine yourself you can for sure adjust the garlic. 😉
I haven’t tried this but I gave it 5 stars because everything you make is AWESOME. I really just have a question about this…does not the alcohol in the gin kill the probiotic in the brine? I’d drink it either way…just wondering.
★★★★★
That is a great question, and I’m not sure!
I’m a huge fan of pickle shots myself but never thought of mixing it with gin! Fun!
★★★★★
It is fun! Yes if you like the brine- I know you’ll like this!