Recipes

The Peppermint Espresso Martini, or as we like to call it, the grown-up vodka Redbull, has become a wildly popular drink over the last year or so thanks to the likes of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

The drink was coined by the late famous British bartender, Dick Bradsell, at Fred’s Club in London in the 80s. As the story goes, a supermodel asked Bradsell for a drink that would “wake me up and f**k me up,” and thus, the Espresso Martini was born. 

This drink is very popular among younger patrons. The simplicity of the ingredients along with the mild alcohol taste make it a favorite of those who may be just getting into cocktails or bartending.

The peppermint spices things up a bit, adding a cool, semi-sweet bite to the creamy cocktail.

This drink is a perfect energy booster for when you’re feeling a bit tired from all of the holiday festivities.

Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:

1. 1 shot (1.5oz) freshly brewed espresso or cold brew concentrate
2. 1 shot of vodka
3. 1.5 shots of Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha Liqueur
4. A splash of cream (optional)
5. Ice

How to make a peppermint espresso martini:

1. Start with a shot of espresso and throw it in the freezer to let it chill. If you don’t have an espresso machine, cold brew concentrate is an excellent substitute. The stronger the coffee, the better.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add the espresso, Kahlúa, vodka, and (optional) cream. Absolut Vodka describes the shaking process as “waking the drink to life, not rocking it to bed.”
3. Pour your cocktail into a chilled martini glass and enjoy.
4. If you’re feeling extra festive, you can rim your glass with candy cane pieces.

Cheers!

Have you ever thought to yourself: “I really want to drink something that’ll keep me up, and I also want it to be a challenge”? If so, then the Y Bomb is the perfect drink for you.

Also known as the “Snorkel”, “Missile”, and even the “Duikboot” (“submarine” in Dutch) in parts of Europe, the Y Bomb is a Florida State University classic. It is the epitome of a college town drink.

The origins of the Y Bomb are disputed. An UrbanDictionary post from 2013 claims the Y Bomb is of Tallahassee origins, and some even credit Yianni’s, a local Tallahassee bar operating since the early 90s. However others have credited Chasers Bar and Grille in Madison, Wisconsin as the originator of the drink. 

Regardless of where the drink originated from, the Y Bomb is a simple and fun cocktail that every bartender should have in their repertoire. It isn’t a typical cocktail however, drinking a one combines shotgunning a beer with drinking a vodka Red Bull. 

To make a Y Bomb, all you need is one 8.4oz can of RedBull, and 1 shot (1.5oz) of vodka (some people enjoy using flavored vodkas). Simply punch a hole in the can of Red Bull, pour out about half, pour in your vodka, and shotgun away. You probably won’t be making any of these at any sophisticated bars, but if a patron is ever looking for a drink that’s a little off-beat, try surprising them with this Tallahassee classic.

What makes the drink “deadly” is the combination of alcohol and caffeine along with the rapid consumption of the cocktail. According to a Purdue University study, mixing alcohol and caffeine could mimic the effects of cocaine in adolescents. Maybe that’s why this drink is so popular in college towns?

How to make a Y Bomb:

Ingredients:

1. One 8.4oz can of RedBull
2. 1.5 oz of vodka (can be flavored or plain)

Steps:

1. Punch out a hole in the lower end RedBull can. The hole should be about thumb-sized.
2. Without opening the tab, pour out about half of the RedBull, make enough room to pour in about 1 shot of vodka.
3. Pour your vodka of choice into the hole of the RedBull can.

Enjoy!