Name: Fridge Door Espresso Martinis
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces vodka; 8 ounces water; 6 ounces brewed espresso , chilled; 6 ounces coffee liqueur; 1½ ounces recipe (optional); Espresso beans for garnishing

Why This Recipe Works

Drinks based on combinations of coffee and spirits abound throughout the world, but none has as big a fan club as the espresso martini. Typically consisting of vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso, this cocktail is shaken to create a thin layer of crema—just as one would find on an espresso—and served in a martini glass with a garnish of three espresso beans floating atop the foam (signifying health, wealth, and happiness). This cocktail is equally appealing as an after-dinner sip and as a cocktail hour pick-me-up at the start of the evening; we’ll let you decide the best time to shake it up.

Before You Begin

These can be made ahead and frozen for a couple of hours or stored in the refrigerator for quite some time. The cocktail tastes best with freshly made and chilled espresso; you can substitute an equal amount of cold-brewed coffee, if needed. We recommend our homemade Coffee Liqueur for extra pizzazz, though store-bought coffee liqueur works. You can store the cocktail in a 1-quart Mason jar instead of a bottle if you’d like.

Instructions

Combine 12 ounces vodka; 8 ounces water; 6 ounces chilled brewed espresso; 6 ounces coffee liqueur; and 1½ ounces simple syrup, if using, in 1-liter glass bottle. Cover and freeze until well chilled, about 2 hours. Prepare cocktails immediately or transfer to refrigerator and store for up to 1 month; return to freezer and chill for 30 minutes before preparing cocktails.

Shake bottle vigorously to recombine and aerate, then serve cocktails in chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with espresso beans and serve.