The right vodka choice can make or break your classic Martini. As the star player in this classic drink, your vodka's profile should be neutral yet crafted with quality. The game changes slightly when you’re making a Dirty Martini. Will your vodka choice mesh well with the brine, or be overshadowed?

Eva Suter, beverage director at Austin’s Bambino and L’Oca d’Oro, explains, “It’s worth making a distinction for the Dirty Vodka Martini - it's entirely unique. We play by a different set of rules here.”

The type of vodka can be crucial according to many expert mixologists. Lara Creasy, beverage director for the restaurant collective Rocket Farm Restaurants, points out, “The base of a vodka, even though it's supposed to be flavorless, is key. The mix of the olive, extra dry vermouth and salt aligns flawlessly with a rye-based vodka. Different vodkas bring diverse sensations on the palate - corn-based vodkas, like Tito’s, come across as sweeter and rounder, while those made from grape, such as Hangar One, have a more floral undertone. Potato-made vodkas like Chopin, however, offer a creamier taste with hints of vanilla.” For those who wield the shaker and aim for a next-level Dirty Martini, here are 10 top bartenders’ favorite vodkas.

A great favorite among bartenders for elevating a Dirty Martini is Chopin, a Polish, potato-based vodka. Jessica Fitzmeyer, bar manager at Swingers Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., comments, "I absolutely love to use Chopin in my Martinis. Each sip is uniquely earthy and rich because of its potato base." Zachary Dimmitt, director of Food & Beverage at Nick’s Quorum Bar & Supper Club in Omaha, adds that, “The salty flavor from the olive brine can marry perfectly with the earthy creamy notes of Chopin.”

“Dirty Martinis call for a savory edge," says Phil Collins, beverage director for San Francisco-based restaurant group TableOne Hospitality. "Bringing in more vegetal notes nicely enhances the saltiness of the olive brine. St George’s Green Chile Vodka adds a hint of spice while allowing green bell pepper notes to shine.”

"The texture of a vodka is crucial in a Dirty Martini. I always reach for Ketel One. Its heavy texture can provide a stable backbone to the salty olive brine," shares Christian Favier, beverage manager of The Ordinary in Charleston.

Max Goldberg, Beverage Director at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, says, "Belvedere Vodka has been my go-to choice for a Dirty Martini. Its rye grain base feels spicy, similar to black pepper, which strikes the right balance with the saltiness of the olive brine."

Stanislav Harcinik of Mirror Bar in Bratislava, Slovakia, puts forward Japan's Nikka Coffey Vodka because of its high quality. It starts with separately distilled barley and corn bases, resulting in a full, smooth, milk-like texture. The vodka highlights the saltiness from olive brine, bringing an unexpected flavor to the Martini.

Eduardo Guerrero, the Lead Bartender at Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection in Riviera Maya, Mexico, either favours ‘Stolichnaya Elit’, a premium Russian vodka, or ‘Altieri’, a Mexican vodka made from blue Oaxacan corn. Each brings a unique harmonious flavor and silky finish to his Dirty Martini.

Liana Oster, who leads both Side Hustle and the NoMad London’s beverage programs, recommends wheat-based vodkas, like Absolut Elyx. Oster says, "The saline, umami quality of a Dirty Martini pairs well with Elyx. With lots of olives and salt, I need a vodka that has a robust body."

Charles Friedrichs, beverage director at The Jones Assembly in Oklahoma City, enjoys Haku Japanese Vodka, which starts with a base of white rice and filters through bamboo charcoal. The vodka has a clean profile with a full body that stands tall against the olive brine.

Last but not least, Christopher Dally, the sommelier of The Iberian Pig – Buckhead in Atlanta, savors Breckenridge Vodka. He says the "pure, untouched Colorado mountain water with beautiful minerality truly makes this vodka standout."

So, when you're stirring your next Dirty Martini, make sure you pick just the right vodka for the ultimate taste.