The Nutty Espresso Martini

The Nutty Espresso Martini is a new version of a modern classic.

This is my last Australian post (for this month at least!) I am trying my part to talk about the devastating wildfires in Australia and what you can do. I’m featuring some foods, and this week a cold brew coffee liqueur is made in Australia. If you haven’t tried Mr. Black, you are missing out.

The wildfires are still burning horribly, destroying vast swaths of this beautiful country. They still need as much help as they can get. I have given links to many organizations that are in desperate need of funds and supplies. Mr. Black distillery, which is made in Australia, is also doing its part by starting their own donation campaign. They even bottled a special version selling for $100 Australian dollars apiece (unfortunately only in Australia. To help. They also are taking donations directly that they will give to those that need it the most. Check out their website here. Check this link out to my other posts Here for the amazing Aussie Pizza and Here for the Dagwood of all Burgers, The Aussie Burger to see all thie links for donating in the relief efforts.

The Espresso Martini is actually a fairly new classic being invented in the early eighties. Dick Bradsell, a bartender in  London, as the story goes, was approached by a soon to be a famous model. She asked for a cocktail with coffee in it that would” keep me awake and f*ck me up” he reached over the espresso machine at the bar and pulled a shot. He added it to the cocktail he was making of vodka sugar syrup and coffee liqueur. And the espresso martini was born. Over the years, the sugar syrup was taken away in some versions. But the basic recipe has stayed the same. For the rest of his life, Mr. Bradsell was hounded every time he would go out to a bar by an eager bartender who wanted him to try his “new” version of his famous martini.

In my version, I’ve added a Splash of a nutty liqueur. I have made this excellent black walnut liqueur, that I have a treasured bottle of from an, unfortunately now gone, distillery called Dancing Pines. But I have also used both Amaretto and Frangelico to make the Nutty Espresso Martini. All of which make delicious versions with just the hint of a nutty flavor to round out the coffee flavor that Mr. Black and the espresso bring to the cocktail. So I have left in the ingredients for any nut liqueur.

Mr. Black is a coffee liqueur that is made from the coffee they roast in house and blend to make one delicious liqueur. They also have a single origin version that I adore. I have posted about how delicious it is added to a negroni. Here it is really the star. Paired with Spring44’s smooth vodka and the nut liqueur, it’s a perfect cocktail for the afternoon or even a night you want to stay up.

A secret I have learned to get the beautiful frothy top to the martini is to use a portion of crushed Ice, or smashed Ice with a mallet as well as some ice cubes. Add both to the shaker, and you will get this a thick froth for this incredible beverage. The crushed Ice helps froth the whole cocktail and gives it this incredible texture. Because of the froth and all the shards of Ice you definitely need to double strain this cocktail to get the perfect result. By double staining, I mean you need to strain it through the holes in the top of the cocktail shaker if it has some built-in or use a hawthorn strainer and then pour it through a fine strainer to really get the shards of Ice out. You can find them both on Amazon Here for the Hawthorn strainer and here for the fine mesh strainer if you need them ( I get a tiny commission if you use the link)

I encourage you to try one of these Nutty Espresso Martinis. They are an excellent addition to anyone’s cocktail list. Let me know in the comments below if you make one of these beauties.

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The Nutty Espresso Martini

A delicious martini of Mr. Black Cold Brew Liqueur, Spring44 vodka, espresso, and a splash of a nut liqueur.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
• 1 oz Spring44 Vodka
• 1 oz espresso
• ½ oz Almond or hazelnut black walnut liqueur
• Ice cubes some crushed before adding.
• 3 coffee beans for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a coup or martini glass until very cold.

2. Pour the Mr. Black, vodka, espresso, and the nut liqueur into a cocktail shaker.
3. Add the ice cubes and crushed Ice.
4. Close the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
5. Double strain using the holes in the shaker or a hawthorn strainer and through a fine-mesh strainer.
6. There should be a rich, creamy thick foam to pour ontop.
7. Float the 3 coffee beans on the foam and serve immediately.