Cheers to Espresso Martinis: Bringing the Buzz

Happy National Martini Day!

The original martini is classic… and not for me. If you can drink it, I commend you. To me, it seems like a shot that takes longer to drink. I’ll stand proudly with the vodka soda and fruity little drink crowd.

Espresso martinis, on the other hand, are the essence of fun. They are dancing fuel and silly juice. As a certified night owl, who believes that Houston bars should stay open until 3 a.m., I am always in favor of a drink that gets people to stay up late with me. In honor of today’s special holiday, I’d like to reshare an espresso martini recipe you can use. 

Espresso Martini
From Defined Dish cookbook The Comfortable Kitchen by Alex Snodgrass
Ingredients: 
3 ounces vodka
1 ounce Kahlúa
1 ounce simple syrup 
1 ½ ounces hot espresso

Recipe directions: 
In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, Kahlúa, simple syrup, and hot espresso. Fill with ice. Close, seal, and shake until very cold (at least 20 seconds). Place a strainer on top of the shaker and pour into two glasses.

And yes, espresso martinis are kind of a pain to make. You’ll know this if you’ve ever ordered one at a crowded bar, and had a bartender tell you their espresso machine is broken (It’s okay man. I get it). So if you don’t have an espresso machine, or you’d rather just go out to celebrate, here are my three favorite places to grab one:

Hudson House (in Rice Village and River Oaks) – This is a new spot that has been earning its stripes for me. They make good on the tagline “World’s Coldest Martinis,” with their delicious Espresso Martini. They round it out with five other martini varieties, ranging from bleu cheese (ah!) to stone fruit (yay!).

Double Trouble Caffeine & Cocktails (Midtown) – They have five (5!) varieties of espresso martini, six coffee cocktails, five spiked coffees, and somehow even more drinks on their menu. It also has an adorable tiki theme – it’s an all-around good hang.  

Julep (Washington Ave.) – I have had excellent drinks here, and their Espresso Martini is no exception. It’s the only place that made me think, “Do I like martinis?” after I drank both the Frenchie Martini and Porn Star Martini. The answer is that I don’t, but wow, they are delicious.

And if you’re looking to try a new espresso-based drink, I also love a carajillo! It’s just espresso and Licor 43, shaken. My favorite one is at Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge in Montrose. 

Cheers!