Williston Cocktail of the Week: Espresso Martini

As the doldrums of winter have assaulted our senses is here is the Cocktail of the Week to help warm up from shoveling snow, and keep existential dread at bay for another seven days.

When someone thinks about a Martini, visions of British spies, beards and bowties with suspenders, or a depressed writer in the corner of the room.  This isn't one of those martini's and intimidation or pretentiousness of the drink doesn't have to hold court especially with craft cocktail helpers are more readily available than ever.

Enter: Owen's Espresso Martini Mix

Owen's non-alcoholic Espresso Martini Mix is a no muss no fuss short cut to a caffeine infused cocktail that is ready to enjoy in under a minute.  The back of the can even comes with a couple of recipes on how to make cocktails but we're going to focus on the simple martini.

Ingredients:

4oz. Owen's Espresso Martini Mix

2oz. Your vodka of choice

Stir or shake (shaking gives it a slight frothy head on top) and enjoy

The result?

Tasty, smooth, sweet.  A solid 6/10 as far as cocktails go.  I'd have it again, but it doesn't blow my socks off.  The libation made me think about what I wanted from a coffee cocktail, and something was just missing, so let me have a go at making something better.

The first addition was by adding some fresh brewed coffee.   In this instance I used a medium roast made by French press.  (It's what I have, it's easy to clean, and never makes too much.

Since this was now becoming a hot cocktail to more properly fit the cold weather outside, now was the time to add a little something extra to make it just a little indulgent and put it over the top.

Does adding Starbucks Caramel Macchiato creamer make me objectively basic? Yes.  Did it put the star on top of the drink? Also yes.

I present to you the Double Shot in the Dark

This drink will walk up to you with a nice firm handshake, ask about your family, and then let you know that it went ahead and cleaned out your gutters and got you tickets to that thing.

Ingredients: 

2oz. Owen's Espresso Martini Mix

4oz. Medium roast Coffee

2oz. Your vodka of choice

1oz. Caramel Macchiato creamer (or creamer of your choice)

Serve in a mug or on ice

Enjoy responsibly

If you try it and like it, tell me about it, or submit any your own cocktail ideas that may be featured and credited to you at Micheal.Reuter@townsquaremedia.com

Ingredients provided by 26th Street Liquor