Irish Espresso Martini
A coffee and sweet liqueur cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 11.9% ABV ∙
The Irish Espresso Martini is a shaken coffee cocktail of Irish cream liqueur, vanilla vodka, fresh espresso, and sugar syrup, served up in a coupe.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Irish cream liqueur 45 mlVanilla vodka 30 mlEspresso coffee 30 mlSugar syrup 10 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with three coffee beans floated in a petal formation in the center of the cocktail’s foamy head
Tips
- Pull the espresso just before you shake; a hot, fresh shot makes the foam, and cooled or instant coffee won't.
History
The Irish Espresso Martini is a modern riff on the Espresso Martini that uses Irish cream liqueur in place of coffee liqueur, alongside vanilla vodka, giving the coffee cocktail a creamier edge. No individual creator or date is attached to it; it circulates mainly through brand recipe pages and cocktail blogs.
The Espresso Martini itself is most commonly credited to London bartender Dick Bradsell, who is said to have created it for a customer who asked for a drink to wake her up. The bar is most often given as the Soho Brasserie, around 1983.
FAQ
What's in an Irish Espresso Martini?
45 ml Irish cream liqueur, 30 ml vanilla vodka, 30 ml freshly brewed hot espresso, and 10 ml sugar syrup.
Is an espresso martini made with Baileys or Kahlúa?
Kahlúa, in the classic. The original Espresso Martini is vodka, coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa, and espresso, with no Baileys. This Irish Espresso Martini is the variation that uses Irish cream liqueur instead, with vanilla vodka, for a creamier, dessert-like drink.
