The espresso martini, a true icon of modern cocktails, was created in the 1980s. As legend has it, it was created by British bartender Dick Bradsell in a bar in London. One of the guests, a famous model, asked for a drink that would "wake her up but not knock her down." Bradsell combined freshly brewed espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur, creating the base for a cocktail that is now famous for its rich coffee flavor and silky texture. Although the word "martini" appears in its name, the cocktail has no connection to the martini—the name is simply a nod to the shape of the glass in which it is traditionally served.
