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Cocktail History
The Christmas Espresso Martini is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created as a Christmas-inspired twist on the classic Espresso Martini. Similar to the original, it mixes vodka and freshly-brewed espresso, but instead of simple syrup, it calls for a flavored gingerbread syrup and adds some Irish cream liqueur to give it a thicker, silkier texture.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Vanilla Vodka: This is a type of vodka made with vanilla pods, grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. We used Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka because it has a tasty vanilla flavor and is affordable. For a mocktail version of this drink, try STRYKK Not Vanilla V*dka in place of the vanilla vodka.
Espresso: This is a concentrated type of coffee made from finely ground coffee beans and hot water. We used ground coffee from a local supplier.
Irish Cream Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cream, whiskey, sugar, and spices. We used Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur because it’s exceptionally creamy and flavorful. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Bailey’s Non-Alcoholic Irish Cream Coffee Creamer in place of the Irish cream liqueur.
Gingerbread Syrup: This is a sweetener made with ginger, baking spices, vanilla extract, honey, white sugar, brown sugar, gum Arabic powder, and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s sous vide recipe.
Coffee Beans: This is the a seed of the Coffea plant.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Espresso Machine: This brews hot espresso coffee. We used the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine.
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Tweezers: This is used to place the garnish on the drink. We used one from the Stainless Steel Food Tweezers Set.
Tasting Notes
The Christmas Espresso Martini has strong aromas of coffee and sweet cream and a cream-softened but still bold coffee taste that’s punctuated with slight gingerbread spices on the finish.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: This is a great example of when we throw caution to the wind, put some alternative ingredients into a cocktail we already like, and hope for the best. The gamble paid off first try: the Christmas Espresso Martini was absolutely delicious to us both.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“While set apart from the standard Espresso Martini by the presence of cream, this drink is also defined by its use of homemade gingerbread syrup, a flavor that can almost get lost among the surprisingly bold coffee but does still show its spiciness on the finish. Conceived by Kendall and inspired by a similar recipe she found online, this one is a definite home run for this time of year.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“After three years of cocktail tastings, I’m finally starting to enjoy coffee-flavored cocktails a lot more, especially the holiday variations. Those are much sweeter than the original template, which means they’re perfect for my non-coffee-drinking self. If anything, I would maybe up the gingerbread syrup a little bit more, but that could make it too sweet. If you’ll be serving post-Christmas dinner drinks, this one will be a winner for your guests.”
Recipe
Add vodka, espresso, Irish cream liqueur, gingerbread syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with coffee beans.
Ingredients
Directions
Add vodka, espresso, Irish cream liqueur, gingerbread syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with coffee beans.
Make It a Mocktail: Use STRYKK Not Vanilla V*dka in place of the vanilla vodka to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Christmas Cocktails
If you like this Christmas-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
The Little Donkey: A vodka cocktail made with gingerbread syrup, lime juice, ginger beer, and a cinnamon stick
Sugar Cookie Cocktail: A vanilla vodka cocktail made with amaretto, Irish cream liqueur, heavy cream, simple syrup, and sprinkles
Gingerbread Martini: A vanilla vodka cocktail made with dry vermouth, hazelnut liqueur, gingerbread syrup, and star anise
Peppermint Bark Eggnog: A rum and brandy cocktail made with heavy cream, white crème de menthe, white crème de cacao, simple syrup, egg, crushed candy canes, and peppermint bark dust
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