St. Duke's Coffee Liqueur is described as “Decadent, velvety, dark,” with a notable “espresso-style flavor” and hints of dark chocolate. An ideal espresso martini recipe would effectively find the balance between the bold, enduring flavors of the liqueur and the clean base spirit as well as the acidity of the fresh coffee.  

This one aims for a maximized crema and a prominent showcase of the espresso profile of the liqueur.  

Perfection of the coffee liqueur would equate as the “St. Duke’s Espresso Martini” tagline seen in many publications. This recipe employs a luxurious texture laced with a St. Duke’s Coffee Liqueur in a high ratio and maintains a subtle hint of sugar for a harmonious balance of flavor.

The Ingredients (The Ultimate Ratio)

The Method (Mastering the Crema)

1. Chill Your Components (The Crema Secret):

For the best results, put your coupe or martini glass in the freezer.

When pulling your espresso, try to pour it into a metal container (like a small jigger) that you can also put in the freezer for 5-10 minutes for quicker cooling. This step is mainly to avoid excessive dilution due to the melted ice.

2. Measure and Combine:

Take your cocktail shaker, and fill it up with ice. Use a generous amount of ice, as a colder shake results in a thicker crema.

Next, pour in the St Duke's Coffee Liqueur, Vodka, chilled Espresso, and Simple Syrup.

3. The VIGOROUS Shake:

When the shaker is sealed, shake as hard and fast as you possibly can for 20 to 30 seconds. The aggressive agitation of the hot espresso with the cold ice is what creates the thick cream. The sound the ice makes should change from a sharp clack to a dull thud.

4. Double Strain and Garnish:

For your chilled coupe or martini glass, remove the shaker lid and double strain the mixture using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh sieve.

Gently pour the ingredients and watch as the lovely tan foam slowly materializes.

Garnish: For the coveted 'Three C's', roasted coffee beans for 'health', 'wealth', and 'happiness' are placed on the foam. To tie in the liqueur's richness, there may be a light sprinkling of cocoa powder or finely grated dark chocolate on top.

☕ Why St Duke’s Liqueur Is The Key

The cocktail still uses St Duke’s whey-based coffee liqueur. This is because St Dukes’s range of coffee liqueurs are the goal for silky, smooth liqueurs.

Velvet Texture: The smoothness of the base coffee spirit means a soft, silky finish compared to the liqueurs.

Intense Flavour: The 'espresso style' means a heavy coffee dosage or additive is not needed. The coffee liqueur is rich and bold to balance the coffee and vodka.

Chocolate Complement: The liqueur’s dark chocolate notes pair with the bitter espresso to add rich complexity.