The Espresso Martini

Here comes Friday. The work week is over. You want a cocktail that helps you unwind, but you don't want the the long work week to catch up to you. What are you gonna do for a drink that is also a pick-me-up?

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Espresso Martini!

The Recipe:

While chilling a large martini glass, into a cocktail shaker, add:

- A 4 count of Van Gogh "Double Espresso" Vodka,

- A 2 count of Svedka Vanilla Vodka,

- A 2 count of Svedka Original, (unflavored,) Vodka,

- Shake intently,

- Strain into the now-chilled martini glass

- Garnish with a slice of juicy orange.

Original recipe by Joe the Bartender, Passage to India Restaurant, Salem MA

Joe the Bartender's notes: I have used Van Gogh 'Double Espresso' Vodka as the lead ingredient in this week's cocktail, so for those trying this at home, make sure that you use the 'Double Espresso' and not just Van Gogh Espresso Vodka. The double espresso has a much richer, coffee flavor, the perfect color and is the best espresso flavored vodka on the market. Once again I have used Svedka vodkas, as I have mentioned in the past the Svedka flavored vodkas have a less synthetic flavor and the five times filtered vodkas have a smooth taste at an affordable price. I have seen espresso martinis that include Bailey's or some other cream liquor,or are topped with whipped cream and have that glass rimmed with chocolate powder. Espresso by its very nature does not have milk or cream in it. the addition of chocolate is again not part of an espresso coffee. These additions are not necessarily bad in fact can be rather tasty, but by adding these flavors you are making something completely different maybe a "chocolate latte martini?"

The Espresso Martini is the favorite drink of one of my bar costumers at the passage to India. He is a young good looking local actor. I am assuming he is fairly successful in his field as struggling young actors do not normally come in attached to beautiful young women or do they order martini's

While watching this budding Lawrence Olivier in action the other night I wondered what my espresso drinking costumers back in London would have thought of all this.

A little over twenty years ago I worked in a market pub in Clerkenwell, London. The Pub was a place where the Italian meat cutters from the nearby Smithfield market would stop off on their way home from an overnight shift in the market. The pubs around Smithfield opened at six in the morning to catch this trade. The meat cutters would order hot, strong very dark espresso coffee to which they would then add some lemon or orange peal and a good shot of either sambucca or grappa. They smoked toasted tobacco as they unwrapped their cheeses and breads filling the bar with shouts of "altro caffe" . The very thought of these men sitting in their blood drenched clothes and stuffing cheese into their mouths and swallowing vasts amounts of coffee and grappa still terrifies me to this day.

Chris the Barfly's notes: THIS IS MY KIND OF ICED COFFEE!!!

Sure, this is straight vodka, but an incredibly smooth and tasty beverage that is accessible enough to be appreciated immediately. The Vanilla vodka is so subtle and background that it is barely noticeable but really helps to maintain the purity and flavor of an espresso, (as opposed to a coffee-flavored drink,) while adding just a touch of sweetness.

Unanimously "upthumbed" by my research partner, (and sister,) Kerry, and gobbled back with gusto!

Possible the perfect 'Friday Nighter.' Done with work, a long week behind you. You want a damn good drink, but you don't want one that will remind you of how tired you are...

This is the one. Trust me.

Van Gogh Vodka Homepage

Svedka Vodka Homepage