Most bottled espresso martinis are made with coffee flavor and a little mass-market cold brew. Cold brew alone won't make a great one. Imagine ordering a cappuccino and getting regular coffee with some foam on top.
A great espresso martini needs real espresso, pulled under pressure. That starts with carefully sourced beans, slow roasted to perfection, then ground and extracted just right, the way a great barista makes it. That one ingredient is the difference between a drink that tastes like coffee syrup and one with a rich, bittersweet body and a proper crema on top.
What to look for in a bottled espresso martini
- Real espresso, not coffee flavor. Check the label for espresso from a named roaster, not just "coffee" or "cold brew". "Natural coffee flavor" is a shortcut. (Ours does use cold brew, in a cordial we make by hand, but as a flavor layer on top of real espresso, never instead of it.)
- Bar strength. A real espresso martini is a spirit-forward cocktail. Ours is 20% ABV, closer to what you'd be served at a bar than a canned highball. It is a martini, after all.
- A real spirit. Look for a named vodka, not just "vodka".
- Balance. It should be rich and bold, not syrupy sweet. Look for the nutty notes from the espresso, plus vanilla and chocolate: all the deep, rich flavors that make the experience.
- Servings you can count. Know how many proper pours are in the bottle.
What's in ours
The OHB Espresso Martini is made with real, pressure-extracted espresso from Katz Coffee of Houston, Goodnight Loving vodka from the Texas Hill Country, and our World's Best Cold Brew Cordial, made by hand with Katz Coffee, cocoa nibs, vanilla bean and spices. It won gold at the New Orleans Spirits Competition, and it's our best seller. Each 4-Pack is four 200 ml bottles, with two cocktails in every bottle.
How to serve it
- Chill the bottle.
- Pro tip: drop an ice cube in the bottle before you shake. It gets that fresh-from-the-bar crema.
- Shake hard, then pour half the bottle into a chilled coupe (hold back the ice).
- Finish with three coffee beans.
Quick answers
How strong is it? 20% ABV.
How long does it keep? About a year unopened. Once opened, enjoy it within 3 to 5 days.
Where can I buy it? Order online at One Handed Bartender, or find it at better bottle shops and Total Wine & More in Texas. See every location on our store finder.