“Shadow Daddy”: Fresh Mint Espresso Martini
Today we’re talking about book boyfriends. And espresso martinis. And specifically, the Venn diagram of those two things. Because today we’re making a (fresh) mint espresso martini that’s inspired by a character who’s…quite high up on my list of male literary heroes.
Yep, this Onyx Storm-inspired cocktail is an homage to the one and only Xaden Riorson. It’s dark, delicious, bitter, a little sweet, with a hint of mint and swirling gold flecks in its dark depths—just like our favorite shadow daddy’s eyes.
If you don’t care about that (or have no idea what I’m talking about), that’s fine too…it’s still a delicious fresh mint espresso martini that’s a great twist on the classic. We’ve got something for everyone here.
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When I first picked up the first Empyrean book, “Fourth Wing”, over a year ago, it had me in its grip immediately—the first series in a while to do that. I devoured the first two books and couldn’t wait for the third book to come out. And so once it did, WOW, it seemed like that’s all anyone was talking about for a while. It was truly ubiquitous in pop culture and in social media.
And you know what *else* has been ubiquitous lately?? Espresso martinis. I started thinking about themed cocktails, and the little details that make Xaden recognizable, and that hint of mint immediately came to mind, as well as the swirling gold flecks in his dark eyes. And thus, this drink was born.
It also gave me a fun excuse to try out my new edible gold glitter dust, which I actually bought for cake decorating but suited this project perfectly.
I actually prefer the darker look of the drink without the glitter dust, but it added a fun theme element to evoke Xaden’s unique eyes.
Most mint espresso martini recipes you see online use some kind of flavored vodka or other already-flavored liqueur. Instead, I wanted to bring a hint of fresh mint flavor, but not have it overpower.
What I learned through trial and error is that A LITTLE BIT GOES A LONG WAY. Like seriously, one or two mint leaves is all you need. We want an ephemeral mint flavor, not toothpaste.
Overall, I loved developing this Onyx Storm-inspired cocktail, the first time I’ve done something like this. I have sooo many ideas for other book-inspired ones, so stay tuned!
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious twist on an espresso martini, this is a great place to start. Check out my cocktail guides for summer and fall as well!
Other delicious cocktails that include mint or coffee:
- Fuzzy Navel All-Grown-Up (Mint & Apricot Gin Cocktail)
- Orange Amaretto White Russian Cocktail
- The Verdant Lady (Gin & Green Chartreuse Cocktail)
- Black Raspberry Irish Coffee Cocktail
- Blueberry Mint Gin Smash (An Easy, Delicious Blueberry Gin Cocktail)
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Fresh Mint Espresso Martini (a.k.a. "Shadow Daddy")
This fresh mint espresso martini is a delicious twist on the classic for any cocktail lover. It's also inspired by Xaden Riorson, so if you're an Empyrean Series or Fourth Wing fanatic (hello, #booktok), it's a perfect Onyx Storm cocktail to celebrate our favorite shadow daddy...dark, bitter, a bit sweet, with a hint of mint and swirling gold flecks.
Ingredients
- 1 oz of coffee liqueur (like Kahlua, Mr Black)​
- 1 oz of espresso, slightly cooled
- 1 oz of vodka
- 1/2 oz of plain simple syrup
- 1-2 mint leaves (don't overdo it!!)
- Optional: edible gold glitter dust
Instructions
- Take a mint leaf, "clap" it (smack it between your hands) and rub it around the rim of your cocktail glass.
- Throw the leaf and one or two others (depending on size) into your cocktail shaker, fill halfway with ice, and add the remaining ingredients.
- Shake for 15 to 20 seconds, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with coffee beans if desired.
Notes
- Don't overdo it on the mint leaves---a little goes a long way!
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