Coffee-infused cocktails tick all the right boxes: bitter, sour, sweet, punchy and bold, and if the Frappuccino has taught us something, it’s that coffee can be mixed with just about anything and still taste phenomenal. You truly can’t beat a classic. Long live the Espresso Martini, am I right? But for those a bit more daring, there are plenty of cool beans out there to try. These local spots will have you cold-pressed to find a better happy hour drink. So sit down, drink up and stay brew-tifully buzzed.
Blase Espresso Martini (pictured above)
Grey Goose Vodka, RumChata, espresso; Blase Bistro, 1920 Hillview St., Sarasota, blasebistro.com, @blasebistro.
Coconut Smile
Kona Coffee–infused Mermaid Rum, coconut granola simple syrup, topped with salted coconut cinnamon foam; JPAN, 3800 S. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, jpanrestaurant.com, @jpanutc.
Gun Smoke
Diplomatico rum, cold brew coffee, apple-cinnamon syrup, egg white; Jack Dusty, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr., Sarasota, ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/florida/sarasota/dining/jack-dusty. @jackdusty
Carcano
Espresso orange peel sugar rim, Campari, orgeat syrup, fresh lime juice, toasted coconut coffee porter; Pangea Alchemy Lab, 1564 Main St., Sarasota, pangealounge, @pangea.alchemy.lab.
Frejus
Whipped coffee, cognac, macadamia nut liqueur, almond milk, sprinkle of cinnamon espresso; Melange, 1568 Main St., Sarasota, melangesarasota.com, @melangesarasota.
Westin Espresso Martini
Absolut Vodka, Absolut Vanilla, Kahlua, amaretto, cream; EVOQ, 100 Marina View Dr., Sarasota, evoqsarasota.com.
