IT CAN BE hard to keep track of what’s popular from one day to the next. Fads and trends can disappear as quickly as they appear sometimes. Remember fidget spinners?  

However, not every trend fades and certain things do end up as iconic mainstays that cement themselves in popular culture, enter Espresso Martinis.  

A delightful combination of coffee, coffee liqueur, and vodka, the delectable tipple has become a firm favourite and a staple of many respectable cocktail bar menus in Ireland. Amateur bartenders at home have even tried their hand at the legendary cocktail, which packs a welcome kick, and works equally as well as an introductory aperitif or a dessert cocktail when hosting a dinner. 

Lucky for us, a drink this iconic needs a whole day to celebrate it, and March 15th is that day. Celebrate Espresso Martini Day in style this year by visiting your favourite watering hole for a couple of post-work drinks, or try to recreate the fantastic mixture at home with one of Absolut’s easy-to-follow-but-still-delicious recipes below.

Absolut Absolut

Before we get into the recipe side of things, have you heard the barely believable background story of the Espresso Martini? According to legend, a bartender in an exclusive London establishment in the mid-80s was approached by a supermodel, who asked for something to ‘wake her up and f**k her up’.  

Without skipping a beat, our genius bartender grabbed a freshly made espresso before mixing it with Vodka, Kahlúa, and a sprinkling of sugar! In that instant, a classic cocktail was born, and the rest, as they say, is history. Cheers!

Absolut Vanilla Espresso Martini 

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 40 ml Absolut Vanilia
• 25 ml espresso
• 25 ml Kahlúa
• 1 whole vanilla pod
• 2 whole coffee beans

How to make

Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a vanilla pod and two coffee beans. 

Irish Espresso-tini

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 30 ml Absolut Vanilia
• 30 ml cream liqueur
• 30 ml espresso coffee (cold)

How to make

Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. 

Absolut Citron Espresso Martini 

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 40 ml Absolut Citron
• 20 ml Kahlúa
• 20 ml espresso
• 6 ml simple syrup
• 3 whole coffee beans 

How to make

Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with coffee beans. 

Espresso Button Fly

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 45 ml Absolut Vanilla
• 10 ml Kahlúa
• 20 ml espresso
• 5 ml simple syrup
• Coffee bean

How to make

Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with coffee bean.

Learn more about Espresso Martini Day here.