Rum Espresso Martini recipe

Name: Rum Espresso Martini
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 1.5 oz Aged Rum; 0.5 oz Coffee Liqueur; 1 oz Fresh Espresso; 0.25 oz Rich Simple Syrup

A coffee cocktail with aged-rum warmth, molasses depth and a dry aromatic finish.

Method: Shake · Glass: Coupe glass (chilled) · Time: 5 min · Difficulty: Intermediate · Family: The Martini Family

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aged Rum (golden or lightly aged, not heavily spiced)
0.5 oz Coffee Liqueur (a balanced, not overly sweet style)
1 oz Fresh Espresso (hot, just pulled)
0.25 oz Rich Simple Syrup (2:1 sugar to water, adjust to taste)

How to make a Rum Espresso Martini

Chill a coupe glass and pull a fresh espresso.
Add aged rum, coffee liqueur, espresso and rich syrup to a shaker filled with ice.
Shake hard for 15 seconds until the tin is cold and the drink has a thick crema.
Double strain into the chilled coupe.
Express a short orange peel over the foam, discard it, and add three coffee beans.

Garnish

Three coffee beans and a short orange peel expressed over the surface.

Pro tip

Choose an aged rum with vanilla and toasted sugar rather than a strongly spiced rum. The coffee already brings plenty of aromatic intensity, and a cleaner rum keeps the finish focused.

History of the Rum Espresso Martini

Rum versions of the Espresso Martini are modern substitutions that trade vodka’s neutral frame for the spirit’s natural molasses and oak notes. The best versions keep the coffee, dilution and foam in balance instead of turning the drink into a sweet rum dessert.

Flavour profile

Coffee, Molasses, Warm, Smooth

Variations

Espresso Martini — Use vodka for a cleaner, more neutral coffee profile
Salted Caramel Espresso Martini — Add 0.25 oz salted caramel syrup and a restrained pinch of salt
Irish Espresso Martini — Swap the rum for Irish whiskey and finish with a cream float

Practise making the Rum Espresso Martini in the free Virtual Bar game.