The Mezcal Espresso Martini swaps the vodka for mezcal. Where vodka simply carries the coffee, mezcal joins it — its earthy woodsmoke wrapping around the espresso's roast for a darker, more savoury after-dinner drink.
Coffee, and a campfire, and the end of the evening.
Smoke Meets Roast
Roasted coffee and roasted agave share a language — both are built on char, caramelisation, and bitterness. Mezcal's smoke does not fight the espresso; it deepens it, and the coffee liqueur's sweetness keeps the pair from turning austere.
A Modern Bar Standard
The mezcal Espresso Martini is one of the most common riffs on cocktail menus today — a natural pairing that took hold as mezcal moved from specialist bottle to bar staple. It is a riff, but a thoroughly established one.
Shake It Cold and Hard
Like the original, the foam is the point — a hard shake with plenty of ice whips the espresso's oils into a fine crema. Fresh, hot espresso, shaken hard and then strained, is what gives the drink its signature pale collar.
The Espresso Martini Family
The modern classic — vodka, coffee liqueur, and fresh espresso, shaken to a foamy crown.
- 1 1/2 ozVodka
- 1/2 ozCoffee liqueur
- 1 ozFresh espresso
The Espresso Martini on tequila — reposado's gentle oak warming the coffee.
- 1 1/2 ozReposado tequila
- 1/2 ozCoffee liqueur
- 1 ozEspresso
The dessert Espresso Martini — salted caramel folded into the coffee and the foam.
- 1 1/2 ozVodka
- 1/2 ozCoffee liqueur
- 1/2 ozSalted caramel