December sipping suggestion: Espresso martini

WWMD  – What would Margaret drink?

Margaret Pearman is a certified sommelier under the Court of Master Sommeliers and is responsible for curating the award-winning wine list at Charlie’s Coastal Bistro. Here is her sipping suggestion for December:

Espresso martini

You may need to stay up late for midnight Mass or get a peek at Santa; conversely, a little pick-me-up before the holiday dinner may be in order. The espresso martini is a classic way to stay up. Once upon a time, the now-ubiquitous cocktail was not on every drink menu. As the story goes, a model strolled into the SoHo Brasserie of London and asked legendary bartender Dick Bradsell to make her something that would “wake me up, and then (mess) me up.” It was 1980, and the original version of the drink included freshly brewed espresso, vodka and simple syrup. It was served on the rocks, sometimes with a cream floater. Brasdell called it the vodka espresso. 

During the martini revolution of the ‘90s, the drink morphed into the espresso martini. Today most bartenders use some variation of an espresso vodka, or vodka with a coffee liqueur. If you’re looking for a truly refreshing cocktail with all the flavor complexity, brew fresh espresso to start. In a shaker add 2 parts espresso, 2 parts vodka and 1 part coffee liqueur. Shake until frothy and cold, and strain into a martini glass. Top with three coffee beans. 

Here are my top three coffee liqueur picks: 

St. George NOLA

This liqueur from Alameda, California, combines the refined notes of Ethiopian roast with the gritty depth of New Orleans chicory, along with Madagascar vanilla.

Vicario

This unique micro-distillery is the brainchild of owners who divide their time between South Carolina farms in Greer and Cortona, Italy. Renato Vicario, a luminary in Italian liqueur production, wrote a book on the subject.

Mr. Black Cold Brew

A widely available option known for its consistent and robust coffee flavor, perfect for those seeking reliability in their cocktail crafting.