Barsys
Black Diamond Espresso Martini
About
The espresso martini has spent years as a vodka drink. The Black Diamond rewrites it. By building on Lalo Tequila instead, it trades the neutral base for one with real character, so the coffee doesn't sit on top of the spirit but weaves through it, earthy agave meeting dark roast in a way vodka never allows. It's a sharper, more grown-up version of a drink everyone already loves, and it earns its place as the after-dark centrepiece of the BLADE x 111SKIN set.
Everything here is deep and deliberate. Fresh espresso brings the bittersweet intensity and the fine, glossy crema that makes an espresso martini look like a jewel in the glass. Coffee liqueur doubles down on the roast and lends a touch of sweetness, so the drink needs nothing else to round it. And the Lalo Tequila underneath gives it warmth and an earthy edge that keeps the whole thing from tipping into dessert. Dark, glossy and intense, it looks exactly like its name: a black diamond, cut and polished.
Bold, elegant and quietly unexpected, it's the drink that ends the evening on a high note.
Shaken or Stirred?
Shaken, hard. This is the drink where the shake matters most, because shaking fresh espresso with ice is what builds the fine, glossy crema that crowns an espresso martini. It also chills the drink fast and pulls the tequila, espresso and coffee liqueur into one smooth, integrated whole. Strained into a chilled glass, it arrives cold, dark and topped with foam. Stirred, it would be flat and lifeless, missing the very texture that defines it.
What You'll Need
For one Black Diamond Espresso Martini:
- 45 ml Lalo Tequila
- 30 ml fresh espresso
- 22 ml coffee liqueur
- Ice Cubes (for shaking)
Glass: Martini
Garnish: Three coffee beans
Pro tip: Use freshly pulled espresso and let it cool for a moment before shaking, but use it while it's fresh. Espresso's crema fades fast, and a fresh, still-lively shot is what gives the martini its signature glossy foam. Old or stale coffee leaves the drink flat on top, so pull it just before you build.
How to Make It
Prep time: 3 to 4 minutes
Skill level: Easy
- Add the Lalo Tequila, espresso, and coffee liqueur to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake hard until cold and frothy.
- Double strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with three coffee beans, and serve.
Using Barsys Cocktail Machine?
An espresso martini is judged on its balance and its crema, and both come down to a precise pour and a firm shake. The tequila, espresso and coffee liqueur have to sit in exact proportion, since there's nothing long to soften a heavy hand, and the glossy foam only forms with a hard, sustained shake. The Cocktail Shaker Pro pours the three to an exact measure and delivers that same strong shake every time, so the crema comes out fine and even rather than thin or patchy. On a drink built to look like a polished jewel, getting that consistent shine is as important as getting the taste right, and the machine handles both at once.
For the full recipe, download the Barsys Ai app.
Tasting Notes
The Barsys Edge
This martini has a narrow margin and a lot to prove. The balance of tequila, espresso and coffee liqueur is fully exposed, with nothing long to hide behind, and the crema that makes the drink look like a jewel only forms with a firm, consistent shake. Get the ratio slightly wrong and it turns bitter or sweet; shake it unevenly and the polished top falls flat.
Barsys handles both at once, holding the pour exact and repeating the same strong shake every time, so each martini arrives balanced and crowned with a fine, glossy crema rather than one perfect glass and a few dull ones. For a signature serve carrying two brands' names, where every drink is meant to look identical and immaculate, that repeatability is the difference between a showpiece and a near miss.
Sip Setting
The Black Diamond Espresso Martini is the after-dark drink of the collection, made for the end of a dinner, a late celebration, or the moment an evening event shifts into its second act. It's bold, dark and a little indulgent, equal parts nightcap and pick-me-up, so it suits a crowd ready to keep the night going. As the closing pour of the BLADE x 111SKIN set, it's the one designed to be remembered.
Garnish Game
Three coffee beans set on the crema are the classic espresso martini finish, a simple, elegant cue to what's in the glass, traditionally standing for health, wealth and happiness. Against the dark drink and its glossy foam, they keep the presentation clean and confident, letting the deep colour and polished top carry the drink's black-diamond look. Nothing more is needed on something already so striking.
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FAQs
What is a Black Diamond Espresso Martini?
A bold take on the espresso martini made with Lalo Tequila, fresh espresso and coffee liqueur, shaken and served up with a glossy crema and three coffee beans. It's the signature after-dark serve from the BLADE x 111SKIN partnership.
What does it taste like?
Bold, dark and bittersweet, with intense espresso, a rounder sweetness from coffee liqueur, and the earthy warmth of tequila threading through. Smooth and grown-up rather than sweet.
Why tequila instead of vodka?
Tequila gives the drink real character, its earthy, agave-forward notes weave through the coffee instead of sitting neutral beneath it, making a bolder, more distinctive espresso martini.
Why does it get a frothy top?
Shaking fresh espresso hard with ice creates a fine, glossy crema, no cream needed. A firm, consistent shake and fresh espresso are the keys to a good foam.
Can I make it without alcohol?
Yes. Shake fresh espresso with a non-alcoholic coffee syrup and a splash of a zero-proof agave spirit over ice, then strain, for a dark, frothy espresso mocktail.