We put a decadent rum-fuelled spin on the classic Espresso Martini.
About the cocktail
There are endless twists on the Espresso Martini. We’ve seen frozen versions, viral dessert versions, non-alcoholic versions, salty-sweet versions – and it doesn’t seem like we’re getting bored of our favourite coffee cocktail any time soon. If you get a taste of our latest version, the Brown Sugar Espresso Martini, you’ll know what we mean. With the Brown Sugar Espresso Martini, we looked to the richer side of coffee for inspiration. When you taste a great coffee (or listen to expert James Hoffmann bang on about it), you might understand there’s a sweet, luxurious side to a drink like espresso. In this recipe, we’re bringing that right to the front with brown sugar, which has a complex, dark caramel-like flavour. Then, we’re doubling down with dark rum, which is typically distilled from molasses. A little cream adds a silky richness while a pinch of salt balances all those sugars. The result is a deeper take on the OG Espresso Martini that very much feels like an upgrade. Where the standard Espresso Martini has become the go-to for nightclubs and flashy bars, the Brown Sugar Espresso Martini could slot in at your favourite low-key cocktail spot. But since this is a recipe to make at home, we think it’s ideal as a brunch cocktail (next to some choc-chip pancakes if you’re really dialling up the indulgence) or to add a touch of class to a Saturday night at home with a good movie.
Ingredients
45mL cream 1tbsp brown sugar 45mL dark rum 1 pinch salt 1 dash vanilla extract, optional 45mL espresso Glass: rocks Garnish: grated coffee bean
Method
Add all ingredients, except espresso, to cocktail tin Shake with 1 ice cube for a whip shake (see tips) Fill glass with ice and pour cocktail over Layer with espresso, and garnish with grated coffee bean to finish
Dan’s top tips
Here’s the thing about coffee cocktails: don’t skimp on the coffee. In other words, if you’re going to the trouble of making a Brown Sugar Espresso Martini, fresh espresso is ideal. You could use a good quality filter coffee instead (probably something a little more on the dark/medium roast side) or even nip out to your local cafe, but instant coffee is best avoided. This cocktail also puts the dark rum on show. Between the brown sugar and espresso coffee, it already has a lot of those syrupy, toffee-like qualities that a dark rum will bring, so it’s really creating some layered complexity. Any dark rum will do nicely here, but richer styles are definitely the go – save those gold rums for your Dark ‘n’ Stormy. Finally, there’s a technique in here we’ve talked about before called the ‘whip shake’. It’s a bit like the cocktail equivalent of the ball in a protein shaker. With the whip shake, you’re adding your ingredients (except espresso) to the shaker with just one cube of ice and shaking until it melts and you don’t hear it rattling in the tin. One cube will help aerate the ingredients and chill slightly, but without diluting too much.
What is the difference between an Espresso Martini and the Brown Sugar Espresso Martini?
A typical Espresso Martini features coffee liqueur, espresso coffee, sugar syrup and vodka. The Brown Sugar Espresso Martini is espresso coffee, brown sugar, dark rum and cream.
What does the rum bring to this cocktail?
Rum brings rich, toffee-like flavours to the Brown Sugar Espresso Martini.
- What if I don't want to use rum in the Brown Sugar Espresso Martini?
If you don’t want to use rum here, you could sub for whisk(e)y or even an aged tequila.
