The Espresso Martini is Generating a Buzz
Sabrina Carpenter's tour, a national holiday....how many cocktails have this much hype?
The espresso martini isn’t exactly new, but its backstory is as relatable as if it were invented today.
In the 1980s, British bartender Dick Bradsell invented the cocktail (then called the vodka espresso for a model (some speculate it was Kate Moss) who wanted something to, “wake me up and f** me up”. A mixture of vodka, sugar, coffee liqueur, and espresso was the perfect mix of legal uppers and downers to get the job done.
The drink, as many of us can attest to, was also incredibly delicious — and simple enough for a bartender to make (as long as there was a ready supply of freshly brewed espresso around).
40 years later, the espresso martini is alive and well and keeping a new generation of people buzzed and relaxed at the same time. This time around, the espresso martini is having its day in many forms and iterations, from the traditional vodka cocktail to ready-to-drink versions. Bartenders are substituting tequila and whiskey in place of vodka and even making frothy frozen varieties.
The espresso martini has reached the very apex of beverages. It has its very own holiday — March 15 — where bars across the world offer discounted espresso martinis (yes, it’s a marketing ploy, but a delicious one). Sabrina Carpenter, who received her first Top Ten single with the song “Espresso”, landed a cocktail sponsorship with Absolut and Kahlúa (part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio) for her Short n’ Sweet North American tour. In addition, the singer has her own espresso martini kit, which sells for $85, along with other espresso martini merch.
Pop culture has a lot to do with the popularity of cocktails.
The Cosmopolitan, which was invented in the 1970s, gained new life in the late 1990s when Carrie and her friends drank them on Sex and the City; and James Bond made martinis the coolest cocktail on the planet in the 1960s. Like other cocktails before it, the espresso martini is having its moment, so enjoy the buzz.
Here’s the simplest espresso martini recipe on the planet if you’d like to make one and celebrate.
Traditional Espresso Martini
1 oz Mr. Black’s Coffee Liqueur (or substitute any espresso liqueur)
1 oz cold brew concentrate or espresso
1 oz vodka
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add espresso liqueur, cold brew or coffee, and vodka to the shaker.
Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds to combine and chill the ingredients.
Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with coffee beans or chocolate shavings, if desired.