The classic espresso martini is getting a twist with cold brew coffee, peanut butter whiskey, Kahlua, and some heavy cream foam on top. This 5 ingredient cocktail is everything you love about an espresso martini with the addition of Skrewball.
I'm obsessed with espresso martinis. They're basically a dessert and coffee all combined into one perfect cocktail.
What makes this drink so special is the addition of peanut butter whiskey along with the traditional Kahlua and cold brew coffee.
Plus, one of my favorite additions to this recipe is the foam on top. Think of this almost like the cold foam you drink on your morning iced coffee or cold brew.
If you love peanut butter whiskey as much as I do, don't forget to check out other popular recipes like these pudding shots or tropical paradise cocktail.
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What You'll Learn In This Recipe
In this recipe, I'll teach you a few bartender tips and tricks including:
- The difference between using freshly brewed espresso and cold brew espresso in a cocktail.
- The importance of double straining martinis after you handshake the cocktail.
- How to make a creamy foam to top the peanut butter espresso martini.
Enjoy learning how to make cocktails like a bartender? Download my free bartender cheat sheet to learn 45 classic cocktail recipes.
Ingredients You Need
There are only five main ingredients needed for our espresso martini.
- Kahlúa: This is a type of coffee liqueur. It adds another depth of flavor to the cocktail that is unmatched.
- Cold brew coffee: Traditionally, espresso martinis are made with freshly brewed espresso. I've opted to use a cold brew coffee in this recipe. It's easy to store in your fridge and pull out whenever you need a quick cocktail.
- Peanut butter whiskey: This is the unique ingredient in this recipe. Most traditional espresso martinis don't use peanut butter liquor. However, it adds an amazing taste! Feel free to use whatever brand you can find. My personal favorite is Skrewball.
- Simple syrup: This helps bring a touch of sweetness to the cocktail. Feel free to adjust (more or less) depending on your personal taste.
- Heavy cream: Typically, the foam on top of an espresso martini made with freshly brewed espresso forms naturally when you mix everything together in a cocktail shaker. Since we're using cold brew, we have to mix the foam on top by hand. It's definitely worth a bit of extra effort.
- Coffee beans: This is completely optional. However, a few whole coffee beans make the perfect elegant cocktail garnish.
How To Make This Recipe
This whiskey-based espresso martini comes together in no time. Here's how:
- Add coffee liqueur, cold brew coffee, peanut butter whiskey, and ½ ounce of simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake together until the cocktail is well chilled. This usually takes about 30 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass. It's best to double strain using both a Hawthorne strainer (as shown in the photo), in addition to a mesh strainer. This ensures that no ice chips fall into the martini, which makes the cocktail silky smooth.
- Next, it's time to make the creamy cold foam. Add heavy cream and the remaining ¼ ounce of simple syrup to a medium bowl. Hand whisk for 60 seconds until it's frothy.
- Finally, gently pour the cold foam on top of the martini
- You can optionally garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Expert Tips
- For an ice-cold martini, chill the martini glasses in the freezer for 15 - 30 minutes before shaking up the cocktail.
- You're welcome to substitute cold brew for freshly brewed espresso. However, you will not need to make the heavy cream foam as listed below in the recipe. When you make espresso martinis with freshly brewed espresso, it naturally creates foam for the cocktail.
- You can adjust the amount of simple syrup to make this cocktail customized to your preferred sweetness level.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, cold brew is a great option to use for an espresso martini with a twist. The only downside is that freshly brewed espresso helps to naturally create a foamy top for the cocktail. If you use cold brew, simply make a heavy cream foam to still achieve a similar texture and look to the cocktail.
Yes! However, you won't need to beat for a full 60 seconds if you're using a frother. It should take under 30 seconds to achieve the same consistency.
Personally, I love Skrewball! The peanut butter flavor is super rich without having an artificial taste. There are many other brands available including Hard Truth, Bird Dog, Skatterbrain, Sqrrl, Sheep Dog, and Blind Squirrel.
It's completely up to you and your personal taste which coffee liqueur you like best. In this recipe, I suggest to use Kahlúa. There are many coffee liqueurs on the market that you can test including Mr. Black or Patrón X.O Café.
Yes! You can use another brand of coffee liqueur like Mr. Black or Patrón X.O Café. Alternatively, try swapping Kahlúa for Bailey's Irish cream.
More Skrewball Cocktail Recipes
If you enjoyed this Skrewball coffee drink, be sure to try out some of my other favorite PB whiskey cocktails:
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Peanut Butter Whiskey Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces coffee liqueur
- 1 ½ ounces cold brew coffee
- 1 ½ ounces peanut butter whiskey
- ¾ ounce simple syrup divided
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- 3 coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Add coffee liqueur, cold brew coffee, peanut butter whiskey, and ½ ounce of simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 30 seconds.
- Double strain with a hawthorne and mesh strainer into a chilled martini glass.
- Add heavy cream and the remaining ¼ ounce simple syrup to a medium bowl. Hand whisk for 60 seconds until frothy. Pour on top of the martini glass.
- Garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Em
I'm never drinking another regular espresso martini. Skrewball adds SO much more flavor to it!