Autumn Spice Espresso Martini
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A bold espresso martini with apple butter syrup and coffee liqueur, finished with a dusting of Apple Pie Rim over the foam instead of the glass.
This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.
COCKTAIL RECIPE
Makes 1 cocktail
2 oz vodka
1 oz fresh espresso
1 oz apple butter syrup
1/2 oz coffee liqueur
Apple Pie Rim, for dusting
Dried apple slice, for garnish
Make the apple butter syrup and Apple Pie Rim using the recipes in Notes from the Bar. Add the vodka, espresso, syrup, and coffee liqueur to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds, until well chilled and frothy. Double strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a dried apple slice and a light dusting of Apple Pie Rim over the foam.
NOTES FROM THE BAR
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APPLE BUTTER SYRUP
Whisk together 1/4 cup apple butter and 1/4 cup hot water until completely smooth. This makes enough syrup for 2 cocktails, so double it for a larger batch and refrigerate any leftovers. Unlike a standard simple syrup, apple butter syrup is made with equal parts fruit and water, so it adds rich apple flavor and a silky texture rather than intense sweetness.
APPLE PIE RIM
Combine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and 1 teaspoon margarita salt or flaky salt on a small plate. For this cocktail we skip rimming the glass and sprinkle it straight over the foam instead. The spice brings warmth and the salt keeps it from tasting one note sweet, the same blend that ties back to our Apple Butter Margarita.
FRESH ESPRESSO MATTERS
Fresh espresso is what creates the thick, creamy foam on top. We use a Breville espresso machine at home now and it makes a noticeable difference. If you are just getting started with espresso at home, a Moka pot is a great entry point and produces a strong, concentrated brew that works beautifully here.
→ Link to our Breville Espresso Machine
→ Link to Moka Pot
COFFEE LIQUEUR CHOICE
We like Mr Black for a less syrupy, more roasted flavor here, though Kahlua works too if that's what you have on hand.
DRIED APPLE GARNISH
We buy ours dried and ready to go, no dehydrator required. Look for slices thin enough to perch on the rim without weighing it down. → Shop our favorite dried apple slices
JUST RELEASED
30 OF OUR MOST-LOVED COCKTAILS, GATHERED INTO ONE COLLECTION
A RITUAL WE RETURN TO
Our cocktails are part of something bigger for us. They’re the beginning of Date Nite, a connection-centered experience we created to help you slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time with the one you love.
Each Date Nite is thoughtfully planned for you, so you are not stuck deciding what to cook or how to pull the night together. We pair one cocktail with a complete menu, a simple flow from prep to plate, and small details that make the evening feel easy and connected from start to finish.
It is not about perfection. It is about presence, and creating space to reconnect, whether that is with your partner or simply with yourself, over a really good meal.
STORIES WORTH SAVORING
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