10 hours Ago By [email protected] (Dhruv Trivedi)
An espresso martini is an elegant pick-me-up that gives the drinker a caffeine boost while keeping the party going. On the other hand, the creamy, coffee-tinged white Russian is a delicious drink that is easy to sip on. Placed side by side, one would never guess that they're both made using the same vodka-coffee liquor base.
However, the espresso martini gets an extra shot of espresso (or cold brew coffee), while the white Russian is topped with cream. The two cocktails originated under very different circumstances. The espresso martini is most likely an outcome of the frenetic clubbing scene of 1980s London.
The white Russian, interestingly, stems from a more formal setting and was concocted by a Belgian bartender in the late 1940s to mark the visit of a U.S. Ambassador.
The white Russian was popularized by the central character in the cult movie "The Big Lebowski." "The Dude" is seen making and imbibing a white Russian numerous times in the film, epitomizing the cocktail's easily sippable nature. The espresso martini is in the midst of a revival as more and more bartenders are starting to use high-quality coffee to make it instead of churning out sweet, coffee-flavored vodka in martini glasses.
An espresso martini uses fresh or cold brewed coffee The espresso martini is made with vodka, coffee liquor, and a shot of fresh espresso. The flavors are balanced with a touch of simple syrup before being shaken with ice and served in a martini glass garnished with some coffee beans. It's a striking and sophisticated drink perfect for a little energy boost before a night out or as a pick-me-up.
There was a time before the revival of the espresso martini when the cocktail was made cloyingly sweet with too much simple syrup or rich ingredients like Irish cream and ice cream. Fortunately, the cocktail has since moved into gourmet territory, and a competent cocktail bar will focus its espresso martini on the flavor of high-quality coffee. Despite the straightforward ingredient list, making an espresso martini can be fickle.
It requires a fresh espresso shot to be quickly chilled for the drink. Using cold brew coffee instead can help simplify things. While there aren't too many variations on this classic, tweaking the proportions of vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso can control how boozy, velvety, or robust the drink will be.
It's also possible to order a decaf espresso martini at the bar, but remember that it could still have small traces of caffeine. A White Russian gets its name from its creamy ingredient A white Russian is a better pick for you if you want a sweeter, creamier coffee-flavored cocktail. It is generally served in a rocks glass over ice and is made from equal measures of vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream, the latter of which is layered atop the dark alcohol mixture.
When stirred, the drink becomes a vortex of dark and light swirls and tastes as good as it looks. The cream balances the bitterness from the alcohol and complements the coffee flavor while giving the drink a luxurious mouthfeel. When made without the cream, the cocktail is called a black Russian, which is basically just equal parts vodka and coffee liqueur.
Add espresso to a black Russian, and you get an espresso martini. Add cream to a black Russian, and you're holding a white Russian. Unlike an espresso martini, which doesn't leave much room for experimentation amidst its strong flavors, the creamy, mildly sweet white Russian is a cocktail canvas.
Festive versions like a pumpkin white Russian are easy to make, and you can even use infused vodka to add more flavor layers to the drink (cinnamon-flavored vodka, for example). If cream in your drink sounds too heavy, use half and half. Milk is also an option, but it results in a drink that's too watery, especially once the ice starts to melt.
Like the espresso martini, a white Russian can be tweaked by changing the proportions of its three ingredients. However, the drink is meant to be indulgent, so for a good white Russian, don't skimp on the coffee liqueur or cream, both of which add a delicious, dessert-like feel to the cocktail..
