‘World’s first’ alcoholic olives launched

The “world’s first” alcohol-infused olives, which promise to “dirty up” a classic Martini, have been launched by a UK company.

Neat & Dirty Olives, created by Olives Et Al, are hand picked and double graded before being steeped in either gin or vodka and infused with either natural lemon or orange zest, as reported by the Dorset Echo.

The boozy garnish, made from the Sicilian Nocellara olive, can be used to “dirty up” classic cocktails by adding a spoonful of its juice, or served direct from the freezer on a bed of ice.

Olives Et Al was founded by Giles and Annie Henschel in 1993 with the aim of producing natural and authentic foods from around the world from their base in Sturminster Newton, Dorset.

Explaining their latest creation the couple said: “We’ve been working on these for a while – ever since we discovered the joy of Martini’s – properly made, with a proper olive…  to make the perfect olive we decided to marinate them in pure vodka.  Once we’d recovered we tried them in gin.  Damn fine and exceedingly good – to be used very sparingly.  On no account should one attempt to drive after consumption.”

Varieties available include Lemon Infused Vodka, Orange Infused Gin and Lemon Infused Gin, priced at £10 a jar.