I mentioned in a previous post that I have an affinity for old movies. The first cocktail I created and named was The Notorious F.I.G. after the Hitchcock classic Notorious. Now I want to name all my cocktails something fun. So here is what I’m calling the Rosemary’s Baby named after the 1968 flick by Roman Polanski and starring Mia Farrow.

I love a savory Martini and I love anything Smoked. Who doesn’t love rosemary? It’s as simple as that. This cocktail is a twist on a Dirty Martini, made by smoking the glass with fresh rosemary.

Why is The Rosemary’s Baby martini so good?

1. Complex Aromatics 🌿🔥
The smoked rosemary doesn’t just look cool, it adds an earthy, herbal, slightly piney aroma that complements the gin’s botanicals and lingers with every sip. You’re essentially priming your senses before the drink even hits your lips.

2. Balanced Brininess 🫒
The olive brine gives a savory, umami kick without overpowering the gin, making it more interesting than a standard martini but less intense than a full dirty martini.

3. Layered Botanical Profile 🍸
Gin already has juniper, citrus peel, and herbal notes. Rosemary amplifies that garden-fresh profile, while vermouth softens and rounds out the sharp edges.

4. Sensory Theater ✨
Smoking the rosemary creates a dramatic, multisensory moment. Visual (smoke swirls), olfactory (herbal scent) and taste (subtle smokiness in the sip). It’s part cocktail, part performance.

5. Versatile Appeal
It works as both an elegant dinner-party cocktail and a “wow factor” drink for guests at a more casual gathering.

Introducing the The Rosemary’s Baby (a Smoked Rosemary Martini)

Ingredients for the Smoked Rosemary Martini

2 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce olive brine
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 or 3 olives for garnish

How to make a Smoked Rosemary Martini

If you don’t have a cocktail smoker you can use a non-combustible cutting board, marble or stone counter top. Light one of the rosemary sprigs on fire and cover your martini glass. Allow the sprig to smother and smoke the glass.
Strip half of the second sprig of rosemary and bruise the leaves to release some of the essential oils. Preserve the stem for garnish.
Add the gin, olive brine, dry vermouth and bruised rosemary leaves into a mixing glass and fill with ice.
Stir the mixture for approximately 30 seconds or until chilled and combined.
Strain the drink the mixture into the smoked martini glass.
To garnish and add 1 or 3 olives to the preserved rosemary sprig.
Enjoy!

Why 1 or 3 olives?

I’ve heard bartenders think it is bad luck to have an even amount of olives. I’m not super, superstitious but it sounds like a great excuse to have 3 olives in my martini. You know, why tempt fate? 😁🫒🫒🫒