A smoked vanilla espresso old fashioned served in a clear rocks glass over a large ice cube, dark and glossy in color, garnished with an expressed orange peel on a white surface against a dark background.

Smoked Espresso Old Fashioned

A rich, moody old fashioned with bourbon, espresso, vanilla bean, and a whisper of smoked salt — deep and layered with a long, slow finish.

This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.

Get a free Date Nite menu →

Build Your Drink

Ingredients

2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce fresh espresso or strong cold brew
½ ounce simple syrup
Small pinch smoked salt
Small smidge vanilla bean paste
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Cocktail Method

Add the bourbon, espresso, simple syrup, vanilla bean paste, smoked salt, and bitters to a shaker glass.
Fill with ice and shake until well chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
Express an orange peel over the glass and place it on the rim.

Notes from the Bar

Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.

Sweetness Adjustment

We prefer ½ ounce of simple syrup, which rounds out the bitterness of the espresso without overpowering the bourbon or the coffee. If you enjoy a sweeter, more dessert-forward cocktail, increase the syrup to ¾ ounce.

Vanilla Bean Paste

Vanilla bean paste adds depth and warmth without extra sweetness. We use the vanilla bean paste from Trader Joe’s, which is easy to find and works beautifully here.

Vanilla Syrup Option

If you do not have vanilla bean paste, you can make vanilla syrup instead. Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Let cool completely before using in place of the simple syrup and vanilla paste.

Smoked Salt

A small pinch of smoked salt adds subtle complexity and brings out the espresso and vanilla without making the drink savory. A little goes a long way. → Link to our favorite smoked salt

Stovetop Espresso Option

If you do not have an espresso machine, a moka pot is an easy stovetop alternative. It makes a strong, concentrated coffee that works beautifully in this drink and is a great tool to keep on hand for espresso-style cocktails. → Link to our favorite moka pot

Espresso Choice

Fresh espresso creates a bold, slightly bitter edge. Strong cold brew is a great substitute for a smoother finish.

Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.

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.

Four nights.
No planning required.

Choose your menu, set the table, and enjoy the night.

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We created this for you — and the one you love.

Kevin & Kate

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