The Bar Journal

People have been secretly adding spirits to their coffee in an effort to consume alcohol without being obvious about it …

(In north of Italy a dash of grappa in the espresso for a warm morning start!!)…

With all the liqueurs available in many different flavors, you can make a wide variety of cocktails. Some of the most popular liqueurs to use in coffee are Kahlua or Illy coffee flavored liqueur, Bailey’s Irish cream or Patron Café tequila.

Coffee is a great flavor for cocktails and mixed drinks and can be added in a variety of ways. Whether it be hot coffee, chilled espresso, a coffee liqueur or one of the newer espresso-infused vodkas, these cocktails all include the great taste of java and are fun to explore.

The most famous drink with coffee is the “Espresso Martini” invented by legendary mixologist Dick Bradsell.

“I need a drink to wake me up, then f*&{779800b323ee42e5ed999e502e0319b1817165bd3ddf64ca8ef6f651c78cdacf} me up”

The quip above was allegedly the inspiration for a rousing beverage created by Dick Bradsell during the 180circa at Fred’s Bar, in Soho – a breeding ground for much of Dick’s creativity.

The tipple created that night quickly gained fame and became a signature drink at Pharmacy in Notting Hill, a bar which Dick co-opened with, bad boy artist of note, Damien Hirst.

The beverage was the Pharmaceutical Stimulant, or humble vodka espresso martini if you wish.

One exception you will find is that the classic cocktail named the Coffee Cocktail is not listed because it does not have coffee in any form.

This is a drink with a long history, hence in Jerry Thomas’ Bartender’s Guide (1887) the Coffee Cocktail made its first appearance in print with the note: “The name of this cocktail is a misnomer, as coffee and bitters are not to be found among its ingredients, but it looks like coffee when it has been properly concocted, and hence probably its name.”

SALUTE !