EVERY RECIPE DESERVES

A Little Love Letter

Sometimes, Classic Vanilla Ice Cream simply ends up in an Espresso Martini. This version is made for those evenings when you do not want to choose between a cocktail, coffee, and dessert.

To me, an Espresso Martini is one of those drinks that gets to be a little bit of everything at once. It is cold, bold, slightly sweet, and usually arrives at exactly the point when the evening has already been very good, but does not quite feel over yet.

For my version, I used tequila instead of vodka. It is joined by Kahlúa, a little sugar syrup if needed, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, ice cubes, and a fresh shot of espresso. The drink stays strong and slightly bitter, while the coffee liqueur adds just enough sweetness.

And then comes the part that turns the cocktail into a proper dessert: an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream placed directly into the martini glass.

The ice cream slowly melts into the Espresso Martini and changes it a little with every sip. At first, the coffee and tequila are still quite pronounced, but later the drink becomes softer, creamier, and almost reminiscent of an ice-cold affogato with coffee liqueur. That is why I skipped the classic coffee bean garnish altogether. The scoop of vanilla ice cream is already the main event.