How to Garnish Cocktails with Fresh Limes and Olives

Quick answer

Garnish your cocktails with fresh lime wedges and pitted olives to add visual appeal and a hint of flavor. This guide walks you through the basic techniques.

How to garnish with limes and olives

1. Prepare your lime wedge: Wash a fresh lime, then cut it lengthwise into quarters. Remove any visible seeds. Make a slit from the center to the rind so the wedge can sit on the glass rim. Cut the wedge just before serving to keep it juicy and bright.
2. Attach the lime to the glass: Slide the slit over the rim of the glass so the wedge hangs securely. For a stronger citrus note, squeeze the wedge slightly before placing it to release oils. If the wedge slides off, the slit may be too small — cut a bit deeper.
3. Skewer the olives: Insert a cocktail pick through two or three pitted olives. For a clean look, push the olives to the center of the pick, leaving space at both ends. Use pitted olives to avoid a messy pit removal at the table.
4. Place the olive skewer in the drink: Rest the skewer across the rim of a martini glass or drop it directly into a rocks glass. Ensure the olives are fully submerged or visible depending on your style. For a dirty martini, a skewer of three olives is the classic presentation.

Garnish options from Chicago's Best Wine & Spirits Store

• LIME (FRESH): Fresh lime is a classic beverage garnish, sold as a single standard option (SKU 4313). It lets you add a bright citrus touch at home without any special preparation beyond slicing.

  

• DIVINA ORGANIC PITTED GREEN OLIVES (4.2 OZ): Divina Organic Pitted Green Olives come in a 4.2 oz jar, harvested and sorted by hand in Greece. They are pitted and ready to skewer, saving you time and mess when making martinis or dirty martinis.