Espresso Martini (Valentino Longo version)

1 3⁄4 oz Vodka, Grey Goose
3⁄4 oz Espresso
1⁄2 oz Coffee liqueur, Caffé Borghetti espresso liqueur
1⁄2 oz Honey syrup (1:1 water to raw millefiori honey)
1⁄4 oz Amaretto, Disaronno
Instructions

Shake with ice, then dry-shake without ice. Strain into a coupe. Garnish by sprinkling coffee salt (a mix of ground coffee and sea salt) on top.

Notes

[Curator's notes: Copyrighted image removed. Instructions rephrased for copyright.]

History

One of winners (3-way tie) of Punch's 2025 espresso martini competition.

Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Valentino Longo, Vice Versa, Miami
Source reference

https://punchdrink.com/recipes/valentino-longos-espresso-martini/

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The Lazarus Project

1 1⁄2 oz Gin (London Dry)
3⁄4 oz Aromatized wine, Cocchi Americano
1⁄4 oz Curaçao, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
1⁄4 oz Lemon juice
1⁄4 oz Lime juice
1 ds Absinthe
1 twst Lime peel
Instructions

Chill coupe glass, shake with ice, fine strain, garnish with lime twist.

Notes

Incorporates each element; gin forward, sweet up front, blend of dry, bitter, and tart on the finish. Get depth of citrus. Light hints of anise from the absinthe.

I did first try this ratio with Lillet Blanc and 1/2 oz Lemon Juice and Lemon Twist instead of a Lemon:Lime split; making it more in line with the Corpse Reviver #2 recipe. Definitely took a second to warm up to it with those specs, but I still appreciated the incorporation of the different ingredients and actually felt it better highlighted the orange of the Dry Curaçao.

I balanced this ratio with Junipero Gin, which is reportedly more Juniper forward and closer to 50% abv. Based on your bottle of London Dry Gin, consider bumping up to 1 & 3/4 oz.

While the traditional approach with absinthe is a glass rinse, I personally don't mind the flavor, so I added a dash directly into my cocktail mixture. Feel free to use an absinthe rinse if it is more to your palate.

Edit: Cleaned up the text on my notes and changed the ratio as I have now perfected it.

History

The name is a reference to my favorite video game series, Mass Effect, and is an appropriate reference for what is my personalized version of a Corpse Reviver #2.

The Corpse Reviver #2 is one of my favorite classic cocktails, but I've often felt that it was limited by its equal parts ratio; it can be overly tart and the gin is less prevalent. Reading into the history of the Corpse Reviver, it was intended as more of a functional cocktail and less for imbibing. I started experimenting with changing the ratio to make it a more gin forward cocktail that would balance the sweetness and tartness. I felt the change in the ratio and the unique blend of ingredients was a significant enough departure from the original recipe to warrant writing it up.

Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
Altered recipe
Creator
The Corpse Reviver #2 is attributed to Harry Craddock of the Savoy Hotel in London, England; circa 1930.

This is my personalized modification of the recipe.
Source reference

This is the Corpse Reviver #2 recipe: https://kindredcocktails.com/cocktail/corpse-reviver-2.

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Ranch Water

1 1⁄2 oz Blanco tequila
1⁄2 oz Lime juice
6 oz Sparkling water (Topo Chico)
1 wdg Lime (garnish)
Instructions

Add ingredients to ice-filled Collins glass. Stir briefly. Garnish

Variations:
* Spicy: Muddle one or two slices of jalapeño in the bottom of the glass before adding ice and liquids.
* Salted Rim: Rub the rim of the glass with a lime wedge and dip it in Tajín or kosher salt.
* Alternative Tequila: While blanco is traditional, using reposado tequila can add a smoother, oakier flavor.
* The "Bottle" Method: Drink down a fresh bottle of Topo Chico to the neck, then pour in 2 oz of tequila and the juice of half a lime directly into the bottle.

Notes

Ranch Water is a popular, refreshing Texas cocktail known for its simplicity, typically consisting of blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and Topo Chico mineral water served over ice. It is often described as a lighter, unsweetened alternative to a margarita.

History

While the origin of the name is unclear, Kevin Williamson of Ranch 616 in Austin, Texas claims to have put the cocktail on the menu in 1998 and to have applied for a trademark.

Yields Drink
Year
1998 or earlier
Authenticity
Unknown
Source reference

https://www.liquor.com/ranch-water-cocktail-recipe-5496343

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3 stars
(1 rating)
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Bitter Brulee

1⁄2 oz Rum, Privateer (Any non-funky rum should work well here)
1⁄2 oz Rum, Hamilton Demerara 86 (Any Demerera rum would work)
1⁄4 oz Rum (Rolling Fork Odyssey; any rum with an amburana finish or a good spice profile would work)
1⁄2 oz Aromatized wine, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
3⁄4 oz Cynar
1⁄2 oz Vanilla liqueur, Giffard
1 t Apricot liqueur, Rothman & Winter
1 pn Salt (Vanilla salt preferable; Can sub saline or a pinch of regular salt)
2 ds Bitters (Use vanilla if possible)
Instructions

Stir over ice; serve up in Nick & Nora with an orange peel expressed and used as a garnish.

Picture of Bitter Brulee
Yields Drinks
Year
2025
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(1 rating)
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Oaxacan Carajillo Old Fashioned

1 1⁄2 oz Reposado Tequila, Alma
1⁄2 oz Mezcal
1⁄4 oz Coffee liqueur, Galliano Ristretto
1⁄4 oz Licor 43
2 ds Bitters, Angostura
Instructions

Combine ingredients into a mixing glass
Stir with ice
Strain over ice into an old fashioned glass
Garnish with 3 coffee beans

Notes

Variation on Sean O'Connor-Combee's Carajillo Old Fashioned mashup

History

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZsyeMdw6024

Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Steve the Bartender
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3 stars
(1 rating)
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Swiss Myth

2 oz Gin
1 1⁄2 oz Orange liqueur
1 1⁄2 oz Aromatized wine, Lillet Blanc
1 oz Elderflower liqueur, St. Germain
1 oz Lemon juice
1⁄2 oz Absinthe
1 ds Orange bitters, Regans' orange bitters
1 Egg white
1 Lemon peel
Instructions

Combine ingredients in a shaker, except lemon peel. Dry shake thoroughly. Add generous ice and shake further. Strain into 2 coupe glasses. Express lemon peel and add to the glass.

Notes

Drillaud orange liqueur was used. Gran Marnier is a good substitute. An anise forward absinthe works well. Cocchi Americano Bianco may work in place of Lillet, though consider omitting the bitters. If using egg white substitute, combine with lemon first, and be sure to dry shake all ingredients first.

History

A gin-based drink for absinthe lovers. It derives from the Corpse Reviver #2, increasing absinthe presence without the brutality of a Necromancer. Orange bitters balance the sweetness, and the egg white adds texture and visual appeal.

The name pays homage to the origin of absinthe, a pleasant numbing of the tongue, and the mythical theme of its originators.

Picture of Swiss Myth
J Holden
Yields Drink
Year
2024
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Jon Holden , Tallahassee, FL.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
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Just Goes to Shoyu

1 1⁄2 oz Apple brandy, Lairds Bonded
1 1⁄2 oz Apricot liqueur
3⁄4 t Soy sauce
2 ds Orange bitters, Angostura
1 twst Orange peel (as garnish)
Instructions

Stir; strain; up; garnish.

Notes

I used Kikkoman low-sodium.

Picture of Just Goes to Shoyu
Craig Eliason
Yields Drink
Year
2026
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Craig Eliason, Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA)
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(2 ratings)
From other users
  • Clear red brown color. Orange scones on nose. Sip has maple syrup, miso, nectarines; swallow brings umami, some alcohol heat. Some Nilla Wafers in finish, and pepper. Salted caramel in there too.
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Conjure Dreams

1 1⁄2 oz Blended Scotch
1⁄2 oz Drambuie
1⁄4 oz Pastis
1⁄4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
3⁄4 oz Lemon juice
1⁄4 oz Cassis (to float)
1 Lemon peel
Instructions

Shake, strain, cocktail glass, float, garnish.

Picture of Conjure Dreams
Todd Brant
Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Todd Brant
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
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Immortal Memory

1 1⁄2 oz Cognac VSOP
1⁄2 oz Pear eau de vie
1⁄4 oz Apricot liqueur
1⁄4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1⁄4 oz Orange juice
2 ds Peychaud's Bitters
5 dr Orange flower water (as garnish)
1 Brandied cherry (as garnish)
Instructions

Stir, strain, cocktail glass, garnish.

Picture of Immortal Memory
Todd Brant
Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Todd Brant
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
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Daguerre's Dream

1 oz Cognac VSOP
1 oz Dry vermouth
1⁄2 oz Herbal liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse
1⁄4 oz Crème de Violette
1⁄4 oz Pastis
1 twst Lemon peel (as garnish)
Instructions

Stir, strain, cocktail glass, garnish.

Picture of Daguerre's Dream
Todd Brant
Yields Drink
Year
2025
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Todd Brant
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
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(1 rating)
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