In case you haven’t been paying attention, the caffeinated cocktail born in the 1980s is making a big comeback. Searches for coffee cocktails are up, and the espresso martini is now among the most-ordered drinks in the country, alongside classics like the margarita and Old Fashioned.
In Wilmington, the trend can be seen in collaborations between local coffee shops and bars, or the recent opening of businesses that straddle the line between daydrinking and nightdrinking, like The Ibis Coffee and Cocktails and Concorde Espresso Bar. Now, a whole weekend is devoted to the beverage that started it all.
Joe Apkarian, owner at The Eagle's Dare, said he's organized bar crawls and other events devoted to drinks like the Bloody Mary. Now, it's time for the Espresso Martini. It's the first event to take place over more than one day, he said. Drinking (and voting) begins 5 p.m. July 26 and ends 6 p.m. July 28.
It's also the first to cover such a large area. The 11 participating bars and restaurants are mostly in downtown Wilmington, as well as a couple in the Wrightsville Beach area. But the trend can be found just about everywhere cocktails and mocktails are enjoyed. In Carolina Beach, for example, Shag Bar’s location over the Crush & Grind coffee shop makes espresso martinis a natural choice.
But even owner and mixologist Nicole Adkins was a little surprised by the demand.
“It is, by far, the most popular cocktail we sell,” she said.
She opened the speakeasy-style cocktail bar (just look for the sandwich board on the boardwalk when they’re open) after selling the nearby Shagri-La restaurant. She started with the Shagaccino, but now has seven coffee cocktails, compared to the nine on the signature cocktail menu.
It was a similar story at Wine Knot Sky Bar and Lounge, said owner Natalie Singletary. She and mixologist Matthew Brinker started with two espresso martinis when they added the cocktail program, the Black Beans martini and the Creamy Beans. She thought that would cover those who wanted a tradition espresso martini, as well those who like them with a bit of Irish cream liqueur.
“But I was surprised,” she said. “People wanted more.”
The latest menu has three additional options for people who come to the ninth-floor, members only bar. They use espresso from their neighbors at the downtown Wilmington Drift Cafe location.
Jamie Alfalla, of the Alfalla Hospitality Group, said an espresso martini has always been her go-to after dinner drink.
“When we were planning Concorde, it just made sense that we’d do this,” she said. They serve a variety of coffees and other beverages during the day, and switch to cocktails and smores at night.
“We have the classic,” she said. "But that’s just the gateway.”
More: Two Wilmington restaurants earn prestigious awards from Wine Spectator for the first time
Craft culture
There might be stereotypes about people who orders Cosmos, for example, or shots of the most expensive bourbon. But it’s harder to pinpoint the espresso martini drinker.
“Everybody orders them,” Adkins said, adding that people often requesting their favorite combos, like tequila and coffee, if they don’t see it on the menu.
And maybe it feels a little more sophisticated than, say, energy drink cocktails -- but they deliver a similar effect.
“People like a little buzz and a little boost,” Adkins said.
Coffee and cocktails have also come a long way in recent years. People are embracing the benefits of well-made brews and the many tastes that pair well with them. At the same time, Americans are appreciating cocktails with bitter notes, like the Negroni. As with any excellent dish, experts use a variety of elements to create a balanced result.
The buzz goes on
And these experts don’t see coffee cocktails fading into the night. Look for local variations on drinks like the barraauito or the two-ingredient carajillo. Unique variations found locally go far beyond the traditional combination of vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso.
Singletary said she’s added a rum variation to Wine Knot, but the most popular might be the coffee shot (the, ahem, Beanie Baby) with tequila, espresso, Licor 43 and other flavors. Adkins points to how floral and fruit flavors work well with coffee in her Bitter Berry, which combines botanical gin, blackberry liqueur, Meletti amaro, and lemon oil.
At Concorde, people can experiment with a espresso martini flight, but there are a dozen or so other options.
“We have a banana-infused one, the Carry On, that will blow your mind,” Alfalla said. “For me, I don’t think the espresso martini ever went away. It’s just that people are rediscovering how delicious they can be.”
If you want to go
Bars and restaurants participating in the Espresso Martini Weekend include: The Ibis, Kipos Hellenic Cuisine, King Neptune, Concorde Espresso Bar, The Blind Elephant, Ponysaurus Brewing Co., Hidden Grounds Coffee, Wine Knot Sky Bar and Lounge, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, The Eagle's Dare and Cape Fear Spirits & Beer.
Many of them are offering special coffee cocktails, or mini-events. The Eagle's Dare is hosting Luna Caffe and the Donut Bus food truck on Saturday, July 27, for example. Participants can vote for their favorites, in categories like taste, presentation, garnish and atmosphere. Each business will have a QR code for voting.
STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the area’s latest food news by signing up for the Port City Foodies newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram .
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Feel the buzz with this classic caffeinated cocktail at Wilmington-area bars and restaurants
Most Popular
Comments / 0