The Espresso Martini has shifted from a fashionable flourish to a dependable fixture on cocktail menus. It isn’t leaving anytime soon. But whipping one up at home remains a headache. Who has the time to brew a shot of espresso and let it chill before building the drink? Who possesses that level of planning? Not I!
When the craving for a caffeinated ‘Tini hits, you could grab a ready-to-drink Espresso Martini can, but you could just as well keep a bottle of Espresso Martini mix in your pantry. In that vein, Zing Zang (the brand known for its Bloody Mary and Margarita mixes) has rolled out a new Espresso Martini mix—and I got an early glimpse. Ready your vodka and a mixing glass and follow me into the review.
New Espresso Martini Mix!
- Zing Zang Espresso Martini Mix
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Pros: Unlike a number of other Espresso Martini mixes I’ve tested, this one genuinely delivers a coffee experience that tastes like real espresso. It carries a fruity, chocolatey profile reminiscent of intensely concentrated espresso shots. It isn’t merely sweetened coffee; it reads as espresso that’s been sweetened. The flavor is fairly layered, with a hint of orange zest mingling through the notes, like you aerated a strip of citrus peel over the drink. It’s caffeinated too—about 60mg of caffeine per serving—so you’re getting something close to a true Espresso Martini experience. It’s also reasonably priced. A 32-ounce bottle (eight servings) available on Amazon goes for around $12.99, which is less than many bar-made Espresso Martinis.
Cons: You need to combine this with alcohol. Don’t treat it as an NA Espresso Martini and pour it straight into a glass. It leans very sweet—too sweet to sip solo, but the sweetness level is enough to balance a solid measure of vodka. My preference is to stir the mix with vodka and ice before straining into a glass for a touch more dilution. It’s quite potent in flavor!
Verdict: This stands as the best Espresso Martini mixer I’ve tried to date. While it does skew sweet, it still captures the essence of a classic Espresso Martini. If you’ve been craving some energetic home-made booze, this is a solid pick.
