The Espresso Martini is not just a cocktail; it's a sublime fusion of vodka and coffee.

The essence of an exceptional Espresso Martini lies in its ingredients' quality. The cocktail's exemplary recipe is:

Figure 1: The most common Espresso Martini cocktail recipe

A stellar Espresso Martini hinges on choice espresso beans and their roast, favouring medium to dark varieties. Freshly brewed coffee's nuances eclipse any instant variant. Before delving into the coffee, let's spotlight two iconic coffee liqueurs: Kahlúa and Tia Maria.

Kahlúa, with its deep coffee flavour and sweet profile, became a preferred choice for the Espresso Martini, adding depth and a hint of sweetness to balance the strong, fresh espresso. Tia Maria, like Kahlúa, is another renowned coffee liqueur, and it too has played a role in the history of the Espresso Martini.

KAHLÚA BACKSTORY

Kahlúa originates from Mexico and was first produced in the early 1930s. Its name is derived from the indigenous Nahuatl language, where "Kah-lúa" means "House of the Acolhua people." Kahlúa is made from Arabica coffee beans, sugarcane rum, vanilla, and caramel. The beans are sun-dried, lightly roasted, ground, brewed, and then mixed with the other ingredients to produce this distinct liqueur. The process takes up to seven years, ensuring a deep, rich coffee flavour.

TIA MARIA'S BACKSTORY

Tia Maria's origins are a bit more mysterious than Kahlúa's. The story goes that in the mid-17th century, a young Spanish aristocrat fled the colonial war in Jamaica. Her maid saved one family treasure, a jewellery box that contained the recipe for the family's beloved liqueur. Years later, this recipe was rediscovered and named "Tia Maria" in honour of the brave woman. Whether this story is factual or a marketing myth, Tia Maria has been around since the 1940s. The liqueur combines Jamaican coffee beans with vanilla, Jamaican rum, and sugar, culminating in a rich and multi-layered flavour.

While our attention centres on the two foremost coffee liqueurs, the market boasts a diverse array, each offering its distinct flavour signature, including Patrón XO Café, Sheridan’s, Borghetti Espresso Liqueur, Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, among others.

THE VODKA

A sublime Espresso Martini demands pristine vodka. While Smirnoff, the world's leading vodka, has varied characteristics due to its regional productions, Absolut, the runner-up, prides itself on a unique origin from a specific region in one country. This single-source principle, also partially seen in brands like Ciroc and Belvedere, ensures consistent quality, which is pivotal for crafting the best Espresso Martini. It's not to say Smirnoff isn't commendable, but its flavour profile varies significantly across countries.

THE COFFEE

Lastly, we turn to the pivotal ingredient that distinguishes an exceptional Espresso Martini from a mediocre one, underscoring the need for more inventive cocktail menus that highlight Espresso Martinis by their origin or provenance.

Coffee provenance refers to the specific region or place where coffee beans are grown, and it plays a significant role in the flavour profile of the coffee. This is because the climate, soil, altitude, and other environmental factors in each coffee-growing region can impart unique characteristics to the beans.

Figure 3: The major coffee growing countries.

Here are some leading coffee-producing countries and a brief overview of their coffee:

1. Ethiopia: Coffee's birthplace, offering beans from fruity Sidamo to earthy Harrar.

2. Kenya: Bright, berry-infused beans.

3. Brazil: World's top producer, renowned for Arabica beans.

4. Colombia: Celebrated for balanced Arabica.

5. Guatemala: From spicy Antigua beans to fruity Huehuetenango.

6. Costa Rica: Notable for vibrant flavours.

7. Mexico: Balanced beans, especially from Chiapas.

8. Peru: Organic, mildly acidic beans.

9. Indonesia: Earthy flavours from Sumatra to Java.

10. Vietnam: Predominantly robust Robusta beans.

Understanding coffee's provenance is pivotal, prompting liqueur brands to introduce origin-specific variants, underscoring the value of a well-curated Espresso Martini.

This is why certain coffee liqueur brands are introducing origin-specific extensions to their line-ups, and it's a compelling reason for top establishments to feature espresso martinis distinguished by their provenance.

WEAVING COMPELLING REASONS TO BELIEVE.

Some ideas to ponder. I'm captivated by the notion of the "Abyssinia Espresso Martini." It

pays homage to the Ethiopian Empire's historical name, evoking its profound historical legacy and its pivotal role in coffee culture. Equally compelling, the "Rift Esspresso Martini" aptly draws from Kenya coffee, celebrating the vibrant berry-infused beans within the context of the Great Rift Valley—a landscape with immense significance in both geography and coffee cultivation. The essence lies in crafting stories and weaving dreams through every sip.

Figure 3: The Abyssinia Empire of Ethiopia.

Bright House Brands First ‘Liqueur’ Master Class is online on 17 November 2023. Reserve your spot starting 10 October 2023.Visit www.brighthousebrands.com.

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