I’m squeaking in one last recipe before the ball drops and we all say see ya to 2021 – fittingly, it’s for a Cold Brew Martini!
If you typically need help staying up until 11:59pm on New Years Eve, this gorgeous, simple, seriously delicious cocktail might just help you get there!
Cold Brew Martini — No Espresso Required
One of my very favorite shows on TV is Below Deck, where camera crews follow young stewardesses and deck hands as they work on super yachts around the world. Give these people an Emmy – best show on television. Captain Lee’s one liners (NSFIGE) are one of the best things in life, and I always look over my shoulder expecting him to be looking on disapprovingly when my laundry room gets out of sorts. Yikes!
One of the cocktails the stewardesses are almost constantly making for their demanding clients is Espresso Martinis – a mixture of espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur. For YEARS I have wanted to try one, but I sold my espresso machine when we moved, and well, ya can’t make an espresso martini without espresso.
Unless you swap espresso for store-bought cold brew concentrate!
Why Use Cold Brew Concentrate
Think of Cold Brew Martinis as the more accessible version of an espresso martini that you can shake up in moments right at home. These cold brew cocktails deliver a double buzz of caffeine and vodka and are so, so delicious. Sweet but not cloying, with that satisfying coffee undertone.
It almost takes like coffee ice cream mixed with vodka. Yasss.
I debated using cold strong coffee as the base of these martinis, but the concentrate really delivers an espresso-like flavor. Once mixed with the coffee cream liqueur and vodka, the dilution and flavor of the concentrate is perfectly smooth.
How to Make Cold Brew Martinis
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make your own Cold Brew Martini at home:
- Vodka: I like gluten free Tito’s.
- Cold Brew Concentrate: I picked up this Starbucks concentrate at Super Target. I see from the product finder on Starbuck’s website that you can also find it at Walmart.
- Coffee Cream Liqueur: I like Somrus because the label specifically says gluten free. It’s a mixture of coffee, rum, and cream, and is deliciously sweet and syrupy. I love this slightly elevated, creamy swap for the plain coffee liqueur that’s usually used in Espresso Martinis.
I haven’t tested, but if you can’t find Somrus, I ASSUME you could probably swap in Kahlua and add a splash of cream for a similar flavor. This Somrus felt like an awesome find though. I love that it says right on the label that it’s gluten free which is pretty much unheard of in the speciality liqueur industry.
Locals: I got this at Hy-Vee Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits and have also seen it at my regular Hy-Vee.
Ok! Fill your cocktail shaker halfway up with ice then pour equal parts of all three ingredients inside and shake until extremely cold – 30 seconds.
Pour the martini into a chilled martini glass then sip, sip, hooray! I happen to have a bag of espresso beans, which are edible, in the freezer so I garnish with three, similar to how espresso martinis are garnished (I don’t recommend eating regular roasted coffee beans – they aren’t roasted to a point where they’re easy to eat like espresso beans.)
Whether you enjoy a drink for NYE, or at your next girl’s get together (or on a mega yacht – take me with you!) I hope you love this simple yet scrumptious cocktail. Enjoy, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Cold Brew Martini
Description
Calling all coffee + cocktail lovers! A Cold Brew Martini is made without espresso and is a cinch to shake up. Beyond delicious!
Ingredients
- 1-1/2oz (3 Tablespoons) Cold Brew Concentrate
- 1-1/2oz (3 Tablespoons) Coffee Cream Liqueur
- 1-1/2oz (3 Tablespoons) vodka
Directions
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway up with ice then add ingredients inside. Place the lid on top then shake vigorously for 30 seconds or until extremely cold. Pour into a chilled martini glass then serve.
Notes
- I like Starbucks Cold Brew Concentrate, Somrus Coffee Cream Liqueur, and Tito's Vodka - all are gluten free at the time of this writing, 12/21.
- I garnished these martinis with espresso beans. You could garnish with regular roasted coffee beans, but I wouldn't recommend eating them. Espresso beans are roasted longer than coffee beans so they are easier to eat whole.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I definitely go for making my own cold brew coffee though I can think of plenty of times that having some concentrate to hand is much easier. Kahlua is more readily available than Somrus in the UK. Thanks, I know what I’ll be drinking this evening. ;-)
Fabulous! Cheers, Jon, I hope you love them!
*Sheepily raises hand* Also a fan of Below Deck. My husband got me into it! Such a guilty pleasure. Makes me thankful I’m no longer in my drama-filled 20s, and can psycho-analyze safely from my couch. But I do envy their yachting travels. You are right — Lee is a riot in a cantankerous grandpa sort of way. But if I had to choose a captain to work for it would be Glenn from Sailing Yacht — super chill and fun. Happy new year and keep the delicious recipes coming.
Oh yeah – Glen is a dream captain – as you said, super chill. I love them ALL! Happy new year to you, too!!
YUM! Thanks for sharing and for using Somrus Coffee Cream Liqueur! We can’t wait to make this. Cheers to a happy New Year 🥰🥂
They are a treat from the first sip to the last! Thanks so much for creating such an excellent, gluten free product!
I love these and I also chocolate martinis if you get a chance try them they may be your new best friend by the way keep the recipes coming I follow you every day I all your recipes thanks
That sounds so delicious, Jill! I’m so glad you are loving the content!!
Looks simply decadent! I’m adding coffee liqueur to my Total Wine list so we can make these tomorrow
Nice!! I hope you love them, Janet! Happy new year!
Yum, this looks delicious! I’ve only made them with espresso, but I love cold brew! Another GF coffee liqueur is Mr. Black! It’s made with cold brew and vodka. Says right on the label that it’s GF! So you could double up with extra cold brew :)
Oo, I’ll look for that! I like the idea of double vodka and double brew! That Somrus is a treat if you ever get a hankering to try! It’s kind of like Bailey’s but made with rum and coffee instead of whiskey and cocoa.