{"id":146254,"date":"2025-03-06T15:33:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T13:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/?p=146254"},"modified":"2025-08-26T02:39:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T00:39:25","slug":"the-history-of-the-espresso-martini-from-londons-glamour-to-italian-allure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/diary\/the-history-of-the-espresso-martini-from-londons-glamour-to-italian-allure\/","title":{"rendered":"The History of the Espresso Martini: From London\u2019s Glamour to Italian Allure"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-nhtu&#8221; back_image=&#8221;146257&#8243; back_image_auto=&#8221;yes&#8221; kburns=&#8221;magnetic&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;20&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_bottom_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; shape_bottom_h_use_pixel=&#8221;true&#8221; shape_bottom_height_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shape_bottom_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; shape_bottom_opacity=&#8221;30&#8243; shape_bottom_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;202909&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; shape_bottom_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;63&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;392847&#8243;][uncode_info_box items=&#8221;Categories,Date&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; separator=&#8221;bullet&#8221;][vc_custom_heading auto_text=&#8221;yes&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-136269&#8243; text_size=&#8221;fontsize-445851&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;594447&#8243;]Automatic Heading Text[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;572993&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; back_color_solid=&#8221;#f3eee7&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;75&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;464942&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;&#8221; text_weight=&#8221;600&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;922004&#8243;]How a bold London creation found its sultry Italian soul[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;175062&#8243; el_class=&#8221;article&#8221;]In the dimly lit corners of 1980s London, where the air was thick with ambition and the nights promised endless possibilities, a legend was born. At the heart of this tale is Dick Bradsell, a bartender with a knack for alchemy, and a mysterious supermodel whose request would forever change the cocktail landscape.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;&#8221; text_weight=&#8221;600&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;785739&#8243;]The Birth at Fred\u2019s Club[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;535210&#8243; el_class=&#8221;article&#8221;]Picture this: the pulsating energy of Fred\u2019s Club in Soho, a haven for the elite and the enigmatic. One evening, a striking figure &#8211; rumoured to be a supermodel in her heyday &#8211; glides to the bar. With a gaze that could ignite the night, she purrs, \u201cDarling, I need something that will wake me up and then\u2026\u201d Well, you get the idea. Bradsell, ever the maestro, combined the richness of freshly brewed espresso with the clarity of premium vodka, adding a touch of coffee liqueur for depth. The result? The Espresso Martini &#8211; a drink as invigorating as it is intoxicating, embodying the very essence of 80s excess and elegance.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;&#8221; text_weight=&#8221;600&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;850513&#8243;]The Italian Connection: Con La Mosca[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;139593&#8243; el_class=&#8221;article&#8221;]While the Espresso Martini was making waves in London, Italy had its own seductive coffee-infused tradition: Sambuca con la Mosca. Translating to \u2018Sambuca with the fly,\u2019 this classic serve features three toasted coffee beans floating atop the anise-flavored liqueur. Each bean symbolizes health, happiness, and prosperity &#8211; a trifecta of desires in every sip. The visual of the dark beans against the clear spirit was as captivating as an Italian sunset, and the ritual of toasting to life\u2019s pleasures added a layer of intimacy to the experience. So it was only natural that this little flourish of Italian flair would find its way into the Espresso Martini, elevating it from a bold London invention to a drink with an irresistible whisper of Italian seduction.<\/p>\n<p>What started as a late-night request in Soho became a visual feast, a sensory indulgence, and a global icon of effortless cool that sees the evening stretch out into the early hours. The robust flavors of Italian espresso, known for its intense aroma and velvety texture, elevated the cocktail to new heights. Marrying this with Italy\u2019s artisanal spirits and the nation\u2019s flair for la dolce vita, the Espresso Martini transformed from a London-born rebel to an Italian sophisticate. Today, whether you\u2019re in a chic Roman caf\u00e9 or a late night haunt in Soho, the Espresso Martini stands as a testament to cross-cultural allure &#8211; a drink that awakens the senses and stirs the soul.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;&#8221; text_weight=&#8221;600&#8243; text_uppercase=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;609194&#8243;]Crafting Your Own Italian-Inspired Espresso Martini[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;189312&#8243; el_class=&#8221;article&#8221;]To bring a touch of Italian seduction to your next soir\u00e9e, here\u2019s a recipe that pays homage to its storied past. Sip slowly, allowing the rich coffee notes to entwine with the smooth vodka, and let the legacy of the Espresso Martini transport you to a world where every moment is a tantalising dance between day and night.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;164483&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-solid&#8221; back_color_solid=&#8221;#f3eee7&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;135297&#8243;][uncode_slider slider_interval=&#8221;0&#8243; slider_navspeed=&#8221;400&#8243; slider_dots_space=&#8221;yes&#8221; el_id=&#8221;2115723&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; inverted_device_order=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;784065&#8243;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-xsdn&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;344218&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; el_class=&#8221;colonna-bianca&#8221;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;137007&#8243; el_class=&#8221;article&#8221;]<strong>The Espresso Martini<\/strong>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_separator sep_color=&#8221;color-prif&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;646201&#8243; sep_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; el_width=&#8221;75%&#8221; el_height=&#8221;1px&#8221;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;944261&#8243; el_class=&#8221;article-author&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Method:<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li>Add vodka, coffee liqueur, and the cooled espresso<\/li>\n<li>Shake vigorously, as if dancing the tarantella<\/li>\n<li>Strain into a chilled coupette<\/li>\n<li>Gently place the three coffee beans on top, whispering a wish for each<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator sep_color=&#8221;color-prif&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;646201&#8243; sep_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; el_width=&#8221;75%&#8221; el_height=&#8221;1px&#8221;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;165694&#8243; el_class=&#8221;article-author&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li>50ml Altamura Distilleries Vodka<\/li>\n<li>30ml Mr Black Coffee Liquer<\/li>\n<li>30ml Espresso<\/li>\n<li>1 bar spoon of Simple Syrup<\/li>\n<li>Ice cubes<\/li>\n<li>3 coffee beans for garnish<br \/>\n(representing health, happiness, and prosperity)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][uncode_share layout=&#8221;multiple&#8221; el_class=&#8221;sherare&#8221;][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;2&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;114759&#8243; mobile_height=&#8221;500px&#8221;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;146306&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;647036&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/uncode_slider][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;2&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;128200&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; align_medium=&#8221;align_center_tablet&#8221; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; align_mobile=&#8221;align_center_mobile&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152948&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;156082&#8243; media_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; shape=&#8221;img-circle&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;881323&#8243; media_width_pixel=&#8221;100&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;846466&#8243; el_class=&#8221;new-class-01&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>Natasha Daniels<\/h2>\n<p>Natasha is an award-winning scriptwriter, strategist, and digital consultant with over a decade of experience crafting compelling narratives across TV, audio, and branded content. She has worked with high-profile clients such as the BBC, Netflix, and A24, as well as luxury brands including Burberry, Gucci, and Armani.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the dimly lit corners of 1980s London, where the air was thick with ambition and the nights promised endless possibilities, a legend was born.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":146257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[196],"class_list":["post-146254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diary","tag-cocktails"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146254"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156749,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146254\/revisions\/156749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}