The caffeinated version of the famous shaken-not-stirred martini has earned itself quite a following at bars around the world for its perfect balance between smooth vodka, rich coffee liqueur, and fresh espresso. Few drinks can imbibe as well as energize quite like a classic espresso martini cocktail recipe. But for those who aren’t interested in playing bartender at home (or simply don’t have the time), the good news is that you can also get pre-mixed bottled and canned espresso martinis.
We went on a mission to try out and rank the most popular bottled espresso martini brands on the market, and we found products with all sorts of flavors and textures. Some were light and potent, and others were rich and creamy. While plenty of them were good enough to earn a spot in a home bar collection, one definitely didn’t make the cut: Ocean Organic Espresso Martini.
Sure, it checks some boxes, like how you can definitely taste the alcohol and coffee in there. But here’s the deal-breaker: It’s got this overwhelming chocolate flavor that hits you right away and just won’t quit. The drink goes down rough, not smooth, and that’s something we couldn’t ignore — even after taking the company’s cool commitment to sustainability into consideration. When it comes to bottled cocktails, balance is everything, and this one unfortunately misses the mark.
Saving your bottle of Ocean Organic Espresso Martini
Say you’ve already bought a bottle of Ocean Organic Espresso Martini … what then? Well, throwing it away in favor of a better-rated product, like XXI’s Espresso Martini, would certainly be a waste. To save it, try and shake a fresh shot of espresso together with the martini to bring the coffee flavor forward. But if even that doesn’t vibe with your palate, we’ve got one other idea to put the bottle to good use. Instead of avoiding that overwhelming chocolate flavor, embrace it by using the Ocean Organic Espresso Martini as the base for a chocolate martini.
Traditionally, this drink would usually be made with some combination of chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, vodka, and sometimes cream. In this version, drizzle chocolate syrup on the inside of a martini glass, and then pour the Ocean’s bottled cocktail right on top so the syrup can meld into the martini mix. Try adding a splash of cream to take this drink in a more dessert-like direction or a bit of coffee liqueur if the chocolate flavor is still a little too prevalent. Voilà! Have a taste of that — this version would be perfect as an after-dinner treat when you’re looking for something sweet to cap off the evening.
