Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce coffee liqueur
- ¾ ounce chocolate liqueur
- ¾ ounce chilled espresso or coffee
- Ice
- Three whole coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur, and espresso.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with three whole coffee beans.
Variations and Substitutions
The chocolate espresso martini is a well-constructed and balanced cocktail that can withstand changes in ingredients and proportions thanks to the complementary flavors.
- Use vodka, either plain or vanilla, instead of bourbon.
- Rye can balance the sweetness in place of bourbon.
- Add a few drops of chocolate, cinnamon, or smoked bitters to add a complex flavor without added sweetness.
- Skip the espresso or coffee and use allspice dram or cinnamon schnapps.
- Include a splash of orange liqueur for a slight citrus flavor.
- Raspberry liqueur adds a touch of fruit without overly altering the drink.
Garnishes
A garnish on the chocolate espresso martini is essential. However, it can be as subtle as whole coffee beans or decadent as a chocolate rim.
- Melt chocolate and rub the rim of the glass in the chocolate, waiting for it to set before straining the ingredients into the glass.
- Swirl chocolate syrup on the inside of the glass.
- Add a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Chocolate shavings or sprinkles look great on the foam.
- Carefully and vigorously shake hot coffee with ice for approximately two minutes to create a rich foam to use as a garnish.
About the Chocolate Espresso Martini
Like bittersweet? Want a jolt of caffeine and sugar rush with your alcohol intake? Can't imagine drinking your espresso without chocolate? Then the chocolate espresso may just be the perfect drink for you! Both the espresso martini and chocolate martini have long coexisted. The espresso martini first hit the scene in the 1980s, its popularity only rising as the years went on. Its partner, the chocolate martini, is even older, existing as a dessert martini throughout the years.
It wasn't until modern times that the chocolate espresso martini began to gather steam, the marrying of these two iconic cocktails, a spark of experimentation and ingenuity giving the world this soon-to-be classic cocktail.
Coffee and Chocolate, Better Together
The chocolate espresso martini is a rich cocktail, its flavor weaving between one another effortlessly. Whether you opt to enjoy this in place of an Irish coffee after dinner or want a new brunch drink, this versatile cocktail will soon take a front seat in your cocktail arsenal.
