Irish Espresso Martini
The espresso martini gets an Irish makeover — whiskey replaces vodka, a pour of Irish cream adds silky richness, and the result is the St. Patrick's Day cocktail bartenders are reaching for right now.
- 1½ ozirish whiskey
- 1 ozcoffee liqueur
- 1 ozirish cream liqueur
- 1 ozespresso
- 1Brew one shot of espresso and allow it to cool slightly — hot espresso will over-dilute the cocktail.
- 2Add the Irish whiskey, coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, and cooled espresso to a cocktail shaker.
- 3Add ice and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds. A hard shake creates the signature foam.
- 4Double strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass to remove ice chips.
- 5The foam will rise to the surface naturally. Garnish with three espresso beans placed in the center.
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The Espresso Martini was created in the 1980s by London bartender Dick Bradsell, who reportedly invented the vodka-and-espresso cocktail after a customer asked for a drink that would "wake me up and then mess me up." The Irish Espresso Martini is a popular St. Patrick's Day riff that swaps the vodka for Irish whiskey and adds Irish cream liqueur for a richer, more layered result. In 2025, Kahlúa officially promoted this exact build — equal parts Kahlúa, Jameson, and espresso — as part of their St. Patrick's Day campaign, cementing it as a mainstream cocktail variation.
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Everything you need to make a great Irish Espresso Martini at home.
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