The Espresso Martini has been around since the 1980s, but over the last few years, it’s been embraced by a new generation of cocktail lovers and bartenders — in fact, it’s more popular today than at any point in its history, as you can easily tell from its presence seemingly everywhere cocktails are consumed. It’s certainly strengthened the connection between coffee and cocktails — enthusiasts of both can get behind a well-made Espresso Martini — but it’s also heightened the profile of coffee liqueurs. And more importantly, it’s made a lot of people do the deep dive into which ones are better, and why.
Luxardo has been around far longer than the Espresso Martini — the brand’s history goes back to 1821, when the Luxardo family founded it in northern Italy. It’s still family-owned today, six generations later. If you drink cocktails, you’ve no doubt had one of Luxardo’s signature liqueurs, such as the ubiquitous Maraschino, or the preserved cherries that grace mixed drinks worldwide. Like the Espresso Martini itself, Luxardo’s Espresso Liqueur has been around for decades, but has kept a relatively low profile — until now.
What makes Luxardo’s Espresso Liqueur stand out is its emphasis on the espresso — an everyday staple in its Italian homeland — and the care taken in making it. At the port of Trieste, coffee capital of the world, raw Arabica beans are sourced from Kenya, Colombia, and Brazil, and then roasted and ground by Luxardo. A 30-day heated infusion process — the first 20 days in water, the final 10 in alcohol — is used to pull all the flavors and aromas from the ground beans, as well as essential oils that are crucial to creating the Espresso Martini’s frothy crema. As a last step, sugar is added. The result is an all-natural, GMO-free, vegan, and kosher liqueur that’s a perfect accompaniment to a host of occasions any time of year, but especially around the holidays. Here are a few ways Luxardo’s Espresso Liqueur can add to the festive vibes at holiday time.
Elevate Your Hosting Game With a Variety of Cocktails
Espresso Liqueur is nothing if not versatile — it plays well with a variety of spirits, including reposado or añejo tequila, Irish whiskey, bourbon, dark rum, or even mezcal. You can design a whole holiday cocktail menu utilizing your bottle of Luxardo’s. Of course, it’s the key ingredient in the Espresso Martini. It seems like a “fancy” cocktail, but it’s surprisingly easy to make. Here’s how:
Luxardo Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces vodka (or substitute agave spirits, whiskey, or dark/aged rum)
- ½ ounce Luxardo Espresso Liqueur
- 1 ounce brewed espresso
- Garnish: 3 coffee beans
Directions:
- Add ingredients (minus coffee beans) to an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
- Shake until chilled and double-strain into a chilled cocktail or Nick & Nora glass.
- Garnish with coffee beans in the froth.
It’s easy to scale up and make multiple Espresso Martinis at once. They can also be made quickly, which makes it an ideal party concoction (and you don’t have to tell your guests how easy it is — let them be impressed!). For a little added holiday cheer, add a mini candy cane as an additional garnish to the signature trio of coffee beans.
But don’t stop there! Use your liqueur in a White Russian or its sibling libation, the Black Russian, which eliminates the heavy cream. Try it in a Mexican Coffee with tequila, or a Jamaican Coffee with rum. Substitute Espresso Liqueur for sugar or simple syrup to add a dimension of flavor to an Old Fashioned. You can even mix it into eggnog. The possibilities are endless.
A Thoughtful — and Delicious — Gift
Whether you’re putting it under the tree for a loved one, showing your appreciation to your overworked delivery driver, or toting a gift bag to a holiday party, a bottle of Luxardo Espresso Liqueur is not only a classy and tasteful present, but it’s pretty useful, too. And of course, a well- thought-out gift says a lot about the gifter as well as the giftee — well played! To impress the recipient even more, add some dark chocolates, which pair beautifully with the liqueur.
Brunch Time Is Espresso Liqueur Time
Time was, brunch cocktails meant Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and not much else. Fortunately, we’re starting to break out of that mold with the Espresso Martini. The rich, potent coffee flavor and light sweetness of the cocktail pair with everything from bacon to waffles to eggs Benedict. A splash of Espresso Liqueur added to a cup of coffee also makes a less spirituous but just as spirited (and delicious) twist on the standard cup of Joe.
An Essential Ingredient at Dinner Parties
At a holiday dinner party, Espresso Liqueur can perform double-duty — as a pre-meal cocktail and a post-dinner digestif. Use it in a variety of mixed drinks to welcome your guests at the start of the evening. Come coffee and dessert time, adding a splash of liqueur to coffee is a no-brainer. But try drizzling it over ice cream for a legendary boozy affogato. Add an extra dimension of flavor to fresh berries. Pair it with cakes or creamy custards. Or skip the desserts altogether and have a glass of Espresso Liqueur neat or on the rocks.
Ease the Stress of Holiday Prep
Decorating the house, wrapping the gifts, preparing the meals, hosting the parties… holiday time can be pretty stressful. Take some time out for a glass of Luxardo Espresso Liqueur, whether neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. A moment or two to pause and indulge can be the best gift you give yourself this holiday season.
This article is sponsored by Luxardo USA.
