Saturdays in lockdown is cocktail hour in my house and I have loved experimenting with different spirits and recipes. My first cocktail when on a night out is always an espresso martini, so I have been perfecting my recipe at home as well! The standard recipe simply uses vodka, a coffee liqueur and espresso but I have learned that each of the different elements are really important to get a clean tasting drink to suit your palate.
I have been using a cheap vodka until the Mermaid Salt vodka dropped into my hands. Made by the Isle of Wight Distillery, Mermaid Salt vodka is made with a pinch of locally sourced sea salt for a hint of the ocean that also rounds out the flavour beautifully and enhances the smoothness of the vodka.
Can we first appreciate how beautiful this bottle is? Scaled like a mermaid’s tale and frosted at the top, it is a lovely Christmas gift for the vodka fan in your life. I was inspired by the addition of salt so have created a salted caramel espresso martini recipe. Perfect for after Christmas dinner but not creamy, like other options. Here’s what you will need and how to make it.
Start by making your espresso. I have a Nespresso machine at home so brew a shot of espresso and leave it to cool. You can use any coffee you like but I particularly like the Starbucks Espresso Roast for the Nespresso machine, which you can get in most good supermarkets.
Once your coffee is cool, add ice to a cocktail shaker and add 25ml of the espresso. Also add 50ml of vodka, 10ml of salted caramel syrup and 25ml coffee liqueur. I use Tia Maria Cold Brew liqueur as I like the richness it adds to the drink.
Pop on the lid and hard shake until the shaker is too cold to touch. Double strain into a martini glass and serve with coffee beans on top. If you have shaken it hard enough, you will get that delightful crema on the top.
Make sure you don’t do what I do and drink too many of an evening. That ‘proper’ coffee WILL keep you awake the way your morning coffee does and I don’t want to be the reason you have sleepless nights, but they will be worth it!
You can buy the Mermaid Salt vodka from the Isle of Wight Distillery website, where it is priced at £35.84.
What cocktails will you be enjoying after lunch on Christmas day?
Contains PR Samples.
No Comments