As far as popular cocktails go, the espresso martini is definitely up there. Every bar does it differently or has their own unique twist on it, but the most basic, classic espresso martini contains only four ingredients: vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and sugar. A timeless classic, no doubt, but we’ve put together a list of the easiest ways to pimp out your espresso martini!
1. Substitute bourbon for vodka
This is for all of you out there who don’t fancy yourself whiskey drinkers. Swap out the vodka in your espresso martini for bourbon instead and be converted! Bourbon has a wonderful, rich depth, and can be much smoother than vodka. Adding bourbon to your espresso martini will make it ever so slightly sweeter, while rounding it out and giving it a fuller taste. This is a great way to warm yourself up to whiskey! To take it even further, swap the sugar syrup in the drink for maple syrup, which compliments bourbon a treat.
2. Add mint
Everyone has an opinion on the whole mint chocolate debate - you either love it or you think it tastes like chocolate-flavoured toothpaste. If you hate mint chocolate, go ahead and skip this one. But for all you mint-lovers, this is for you! You can shake up your espresso martini with some fresh mint, which will give it a slightly herby, but subtle flavour, or substitute the sugar for a creme de menthe such as this one from Briottet instead, which will make it sweeter with a more concentrated mint taste.
3. Add a nut liqueur
This one sounds... odd. But trust me. A hazelnut liqueur such as Frangelico can make a world of nutty difference to your espresso martini, making it richer and giving it more depth. Frangelico is quite flavourful, so you only need to add about 5ml to your espresso martini. If you’re ahead of a super heavy nutty taste, try out a dash or two of walnut bitters instead, like these ones from the Fee Brothers. Or you could even get creative and use an orgeat instead of sugar syrup!
4. Salted coconut
You heard it here first - salted coconut is the new thing. We’ve been fans of salted coconut for a while now and we’ve seen it become more popular as an ingredient this year, especially in Australia.
Coconut itself is a wonderful addition to an espresso martini, whether in the form of coconut cream, coconut milk, or coconut syrup. The flavour just works!
Salted coconut, however, takes it to a whole new level. The hint of salt is so cheeky but makes such a difference. You might be thinking, “Why on earth would I want salt in my coffee?” But trust us - that hint of sea salt along with the sweet, warm flavours ofan espresso martini are just divine!
And as it just so happens, we have our very own espresso martini at Mindful Mixology available for purchase and delivery!
Head over to our product page to purchase yours now.
Salted Coconut Espresso Martini- Mindful Mixology
By Nadia Barbar
