Shake Up This Delicious, Easy Cocktail for a Celebratory Sip

This holiday season, we’re raising a (martini) glass to the espresso martini. With just four ingredients in the traditional recipe, this classic cocktail is easy to shake (not stir) up. Plus, despite being a chilled drink, the deep flavors of espresso feel distinctly cozy, making this a delicious holiday-time choice.

The History of the Espresso Martini

Invented in 1983, the espresso martini was – according to legend – inspired by a young, now-famous model who asked Soho Brasserie bartender Dick Bradsell to mix her up a cocktail with coffee. Though originally called “Vodka Espresso,” growing preference for serving the drink in a martini glass gave it the name we know it by today.

The Key to a Good Espresso Martini

With espresso featuring so prominently in the cocktail, it’s no surprise that high-quality coffee is key. When it comes to choosing beans, you have some flexibility: Whichever blend is your favorite will also play nicely here. Just be sure to use freshly ground coffee for the shot, and don’t allow the espresso to sit around too long before mixing up the cocktail.

While we like to add a dash of simple syrup to our cocktail for a bit of added sweetness, Kahlúa’s sweetness can be enough for some sippers. Feel free to play with the balance of ingredients – and, if you’re a simple syrup user, get creative with your flavors too (see below!).

Oh, and you’ll want to make sure you give your mixture a vigorous shake before serving – the motion helps create the delicious crema that sits on top.

How to Make Flavored Simple Syrup

As you’d expect from its name, simple syrup is easy to make: Just heat 1 part water in a saucepan until hot, then stir in 1 part sugar (we like using panela) until fully dissolved. With such a basic recipe, it’s also easy to get creative with flavorings. We like cinnamon or vanilla simple syrup with this espresso martini, but you can also get creative with peppermint, orange, ginger and more. To infuse your simple syrup, just add your flavoring to the saucepan with the sugar, then let simmer for about 2-3 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz vodka

• 1.5 oz Kahlúa

• 1 oz espresso

• 2 tsp simple syrup, to taste

• Ice

Directions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, Kahlua, espresso, and simple syrup.

2. Add ice. Shake vigorously for 1 minute.

3. Strain into glass, pouring quickly to preserve the crema.