Espresso Martini

Credit: Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Ingredients

1 oz cold brew coffee concentrate
3/4 oz 100 proof vodka
3/4 oz Kahlua
lemon peel

Directions

Shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Express a lemon peel over the glass.

Notes

This. Is. It. Ugh, single-word sentences, that’s the 100-proof vodka kicking in. Now I get why you need the stronger vodka—it cuts through the sweetness of the Kahlua. The lemon peel is a reminder of how well citrus and coffee pair. I made two of these at once, but next time I’d make them individually to ensure adequate foam levels. Stellar.

Here’s a video of the cocktail’s creator, Dick Bradsell, making the drink—originally called a Vodka Espresso. He shares the origin story as well. :-)

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Cosmopolitan

Credit: Difford’s Guide

Ingredients

1 oz Ketel One Vodka
1 oz Cointreau
1 1/2 oz Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
1/2 oz lime juice
dash orange bitters
Luxardo cherry garnish

Directions

Shake and strain into a chilled glass.

Notes

Made this for a guest. Orange zest is the original recipe but I liked the cherry. It’s a beautiful pink, but a bit too ethanol-forward for me.

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Blue Hawaii

Credit: Leandro DiMonriva, The Educated Barfly

Ingredients

3/4 oz white rum (white or flavored)
3/4 oz vodka or gin (flavored)
1/2 oz Drillaud Blue Curaçao
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz lime cordial
1 tsp 2:1 demerara syrup
5 drops saline solution
Luxardo cherry garnish, or pineapple wedge

Directions

Shake and strain over crushed or pebble ice.

Notes

Definitely one of those “I can’t believe I’m drinking this at home” drinks…so good! Good spirit flavors here are coconut and pineapple. Not to be confused with a Blue Hawaiian, which has coconut cream.

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