Espresso Martini
The Espresso Martini is a very strong vodka spirit-forward cocktail, sweet on the palate. Shaken and served in a cocktail glass. It's one of the International Bartenders Association's official new era cocktails.
- 3 min
- Cocktail glass
- Shaken
Flavor profile
- Sweet
- 45 out of 100
- Bitter
- 18 out of 100
- Smoky
- 6 out of 100
- Boozy
- 97 out of 100
How to make an Espresso Martini
To make an Espresso Martini, shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass: 1⅔ oz vodka, ⅓ oz Kahlua and 1 dash simple syrup.
You'll need
- Vodka1⅔ oz
- Kahlua⅓ oz
- Simple syrup1 dash
Pairs well with: Simple syrup · All syrups
Instructions
- 1
Chill a cocktail glass: fill it with ice and water while you mix, then tip it out.
- 2
Add vodka, Kahlua and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
- 3
Fill the shaker with ice.
- 4
Shake hard for 10-15 seconds, until the outside is frosty.
- 5
Strain into the chilled cocktail glass.
Why shake? A hard shake chills the drink quickly and blends everything evenly.
Espresso Martini questions
What does an Espresso Martini taste like?
Mostly sweet, with a noticeable alcohol warmth. It's a very strong drink at about 29% ABV once mixed.
How strong is an Espresso Martini?
About 29% ABV after mixing with ice, close to a neat spirit.
What's the difference between an Espresso Martini and a Black Russian?
Both use vodka and Kahlua. The Espresso Martini adds simple syrup. The Espresso Martini is shaken and served in a cocktail glass; the Black Russian is built in the glass and served in a rocks glass.
Should an Espresso Martini be shaken or stirred?
Shaken: simple syrup needs a hard shake to mix and chill properly.
What glass do you serve an Espresso Martini in?
A cocktail glass.