The 10 Best Espresso Cocktails

You might not have known that there’s a whole day dedicated to espresso, but November 23 is indeed National Espresso Day. While you could always celebrate with a traditional latte or cappuccino, an espresso-forward cocktail is never a bad idea. 

Here are ten of our favorite boozy and buzzworthy espresso concoctions, from decadent desert drinks to invigorating caffeinated indulgences. 

Not too long ago, I visited the Mexican restaurant Dorado in Rochester, NY. That day, they had an “espressarita” as a daily special, taking my two favorite drinks ever (espresso martini and margarita), and combining them into one. I later recreated it at home, and having Dano’s Dangerous Coffee Reposado on hand made the recipe remarkably simple.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Dano’s Dangerous Coffee Reposado
• 2 oz. Sweetened Coconut Milk

Add ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain over large cubes in a rocks glass. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Optional: Rim glass with a mix of salt and brown sugar.

I’ve worked at several bars in New York, and after a lot of trial and error, I finally stumbled upon the recipe for the perfect espresso martini. The secret? Using high-quality vodka and adding Amaro Nonino Quintessentia to balance the sweetness and bitterness of the classic cocktail. 

My vodka of choice is Purity Signature 34 Edition Vodka from Purity Distillery. After being distilled 34 times, the taste is clean, and with the addition of Amaro Nonino, a touch of cold brew and a dash of simple syrup, you’ll end up with an incredibly smooth, classic espresso martini.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Purity Signature 34 Edition Vodka
• ½ oz Simple Syrup
• ¾ oz Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1.5 oz Cold Brew

Add ingredients to a shaker and shake vigorously to create a foam. If the drink isn’t foamy, add more ice, and shake harder. (I promise, it’ll make a difference!) Strain into a martini glass and garnish with three espresso beans.

While a classic espresso martini calls for vodka, not everyone is a vodka fan. La Vive, a mezcal-based espresso martini, is a fantastic alternative. Swap out the simple syrup for orgeat, an almond syrup, and you’re left with a nutty, smoky cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Desolas mezcal
• ½ oz orgeat
• ¾ oz Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
• 1.5 oz Cold Brew

Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously to create a foam. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a torched cinnamon stick and three espresso beans.

The combination of citrus and tequila is always a good idea, so why not throw a little caffeine in the mix? This Mexican Coffee Margarita takes the classic elements of a Mexican coffee and those of a marg, marrying the two into a refreshing, balanced sip.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Flecha Azul Reposado
• ¾ oz Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur
• ½ oz orange juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Dash of cinnamon

Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake. Strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange wedge and cinnamon stick.

Sometimes, you just need a quick drink with no fluff. The solution? Scotch and coffee. Fior Scotch is the only U.S. veteran-owned and Black-owned Scotch available on the market. Add a good dash of cold brew coffee to Fior for a boozy, buzzy beverage, without the fuss. This is the perfect drink to make while preparing for Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Fior Scotch
• 4.5 oz Cold Brew Coffee

Pour Scotch and cold brew over ice in a pint glass. Cheers!

I recently visited Mariah Carey’s Black Irish Holiday Bar pop-up at Virgin Hotels New York City, where the Queen of Christmas’s Irish cream brand is featured in several seasonal cocktails. With its velvety smooth texture and taste, I thought, this would be perfect for a boozy iced mocha drink. I then got my hands on some Galliano Espresso, and with strong notes of chocolate and almost a syrupy viscosity, I knew I was onto something. It made sense to mix it with Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum, yet another spirit with notes of cocoa. Beware of this one; this recipe is pure booze, and dangerously smooth!

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum
• 2 oz Black Irish Original Irish Cream Liqueur
• 1 oz Galliano Espresso

Garnish:

• Chocolate syrup
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate sprinkles

Pour all ingredients into a shaker and shake. Line the inside of a mason jar with chocolate syrup and fill with ice. Strain drink into mason jar over ice. Top with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate sprinkles.

My go-to drink order is a mezcal negroni, so I wanted to create an espresso variation on one. With the addition of Tia Maria Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, this cocktail got its caffeine element, since it’s made with 100 percent Arabica coffee. Amaro Montenegro compliments the coffee notes from the Tia Maria beautifully, with its warm cinnamon undertones.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Ilegal Mezcal Reposado Caribbean Cask
• 1 oz Amaro Montenegro
• 1 oz Tia Maria Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

Pour all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Use a bar spoon to stir until the shaker becomes ice-cold. Strain over large cubes in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

Nothing helps us transition from the warmer to cooler months better than a pumpkin spice latte. Love it or hate it, it’s the quintessential cozy beverage, and adding booze to the mix makes it even better. 

Despite vodka being the go-to spirit of choice for most espresso martinis, when I visited InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa and had my first ever rum-based espresso martini, I was pleasantly surprised. It makes sense; with rum’s natural vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon notes, it pairs beautifully with all things pumpkin spice.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz The Kraken Rum
• 1 shot of espresso
• 1 oz Trader Joe’s Pumpkin spice cream liqueur

Fill a shaker with ice, add all ingredients, and shake. Strain into a martini glass. Top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin pie seasoning or cinnamon, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

While visiting Milan earlier this year, our server at Al Baretto San Marco asked us if we wanted a “dessert cocktail.” Not always looking for something on the sweet side, I was hesitant, but took the leap. He brought each of us a creamy concoction that was not sweet at all. Instead, made with cognac, Select Aperitivo, and a hint of espresso cream liqueur, the combination was slightly bitter yet oh-so smooth.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Grand Brulot cafe liqueur 
• ½ oz Select Aperitivo
• 1 oz Baileys Espresso Crème

Fill a shaker with ice, add all ingredients to a shaker and shake. Strain in a martini glass. Garnish with a skewered raspberry and dust with cocoa powder or crushed, freeze-dried raspberries.

Maybe you’re traveling for the holidays and you don’t want to have to lug bottles of liquor with you. Or perhaps you don’t want to spend a ton at the liquor store. Pre-mixed cocktails can be hit or miss, but Via Carota Craft Cocktails consistently makes hits, and their espresso martini is no exception. It makes sense since Via Carota is one of the most sought-after restaurants in New York City. This is the perfect espresso cocktail on the go; simply shake when you’re ready to sip, and enjoy! A 375 ml bottle contains four servings for $39, or they have two sizes of single-serving multipacks. 

Buy at Via Carota Craft Cocktails