Espresso-lico Recipe
mile high spirits vodka, kahlua, frangelico, espresso, espresso bean garnish, served up
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Method
Cocktail
Prepare espresso
Brew a fresh shot of espresso (about 1 oz). If brewing hot, let it rest 20–30 seconds so it’s very hot but not scalding; alternatively use a chilled/iced espresso for a colder end temperature without as much dilution.
Combine ingredients
In a mixing glass or cocktail shaker, add 4 ice cubes, 1.5 oz mile high spirits vodka, 0.5 oz Kahlúa, 0.5 oz Frangelico, and 1 oz freshly brewed espresso. Add 0.25 oz simple syrup only if you prefer slight sweetness — taste preference varies.
Shake
Cap the shaker and shake vigorously for 12–18 seconds. The goal is to chill thoroughly and create a light crema from the espresso. If using hot espresso, shake a bit longer to cool the mixture; if using chilled espresso, 10–12 seconds is sufficient.
Strain and serve
Discard the ice from the chilled glass if you used ice water. Double-strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe or martini glass using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer to remove small ice shards and preserve a smooth texture and crema on top.
Garnish
Float 3 espresso beans on the crema as a classic garnish. Serve immediately.