This Espresso Tonic with Vodka is a bubbly, boozy version of an iced coffee. Made with espresso vodka, cranberry juice, tonic water, and orange bitters, it has a balance of fruity, sweet, and bitter flavors. Perfect for everything from a hot summer day to a festive holiday party, there is no limit to this drink’s versatility.
If you love a good iced coffee cocktail, make sure to check out my cocktail recipes for a Hazelnut Espresso Martini as well as the viral TikTok Parmesan Cheese Espresso Martini.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Unique flavor – The sweet and bitter tonic water marries perfectly with the flavors of espresso. Combined with the sweet and sour flavors of cranberry juice along with the citrusy bitter flavor of the orange bitters, it creates an unexpected flavor profile that will easily become your new favorite cocktail.
Versatile – This icy and refreshing drink makes for a great summer cocktail to cool off with, or it can easily be served at a holiday party with its festive, deep red hue.
Impressive – Serving this at a gathering will delight and surprise your guests with the sophisticated Negroni-like hue and surprising flavor combination. It will love at first sip, and they will be begging for the recipe!
What is an Espresso Tonic?
This particular version was born out of two different drinks for inspiration. Years ago, I had a “No-groni” at one of my favorite Charleston distilleries, Cannon. The basic recipe was cranberry juice, Cannon’s Early Bird Coffee Vodka, and orange bitters. After inquiring about its basic recipe, it became a cocktail staple in my household. I’ve converted many a friends and family to be “No-groni” fans.
(FYI, this is not sponsored, but if you’re ever vacationing in Charleston – I highly recommend stopping by Cannon and checking out their spirits and amazing cocktails. It’s conveniently located on the way to Folly Beach!)
The other drink that inspired this cocktail was the original Espresso Tonic recipe. It was a unique coffee-based drink that originated in Oslo. Two Baristas, Anne Lunell and Charles Nystrand, are credited with the creation of the Espresso Tonic. From there, it spread to spread to specialty coffee shops all over the world.
The general recipe that has caught on is a combination of a double shot of espresso mixed with about 6 ounces of tonic water. Some like to add some simple syrup and others prefer to drink without added sugar or sweetener.
Ingredient Notes
Espresso or coffee vodka: Make sure that you are buying the coffee/espresso flavored vodka and not a coffee liqueur like Kahlua. I typically use Cannon Early Bird Coffee Vodka, which is a local brand for me, but I’ve also used the widely available Van Gogh Espresso Vodka.
Cranberry juice cocktail: It is important to use a cranberry juice cocktail, which is sweetened to balance the sourness of cranberry juice. If you want to use 100% cranberry juice, you can, but keep in mind you may want to add some simple syrup to balance the flavors.
Tonic water: For the best and most complex flavor profiles, use high-quality brands such as Q Mixers or Fever Tree tonic water. Both are available at just about any grocery or liquor store. You can also use plain seltzer water (from a can or a SodaStream) mixed with a tonic syrup like Jack Rudy Tonic Syrup.
Orange bitters: These are widely available in many different brands at pretty much any grocery or liquor store. Of course, you can also find orange bitters on Amazon.
Orange peel for garnish: A citrus peel adds more aroma and flavor from the essential oils in the peel, so you get a bigger flavor profile when you lean down to take a sip. Alternatively, you can use a high-quality maraschino cherry, such as Luxardo (skip the fluorescent red versions that you see on ice cream sundaes, trust me).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add the espresso (or coffee) vodka to a tall glass filled with plenty of ice cubes. Then, add the cranberry juice to the glass.
Step 2: Top with tonic water and add a few dashes of orange bitters.
Step 3: Give it a quick stir, moving the spoon up and down as you stir to make sure you evenly distribute the ingredients. Then, garnish with an orange peel, if desired.
Expert Tips & Variations
- For an extra burst of coffee flavor, add a cooled espresso shot to the cocktail. You can also use a bit of cooled concentrated French press coffee or cold brew to make a cold brew tonic.
- For a non-alcoholic version or mocktail, replace the vodka with one or two cooled shots of espresso.
- For a deeper and even more complex flavor profile, swap the vodka for whiskey or cognac.
FAQ
What is the difference between tonic water and other types of soda water?
Tonic water is a carbonated beverage that contains bitter-tasting quinine that is balanced with some sort of sweetener. Club soda is also carbonated but does not contain quinine and usually not any sweetener. Instead, club soda contains minerals to enhance the taste and fizz of the bubbly water. Seltzer is plain carbonated water without any minerals, sweetener, or quinine, although, it sometimes does have non-sweetened fruit flavors (for example, La Croix flavored waters).
How can I make the cocktail sweeter?
You can make the cocktail sweeter by adding a splash of simple syrup. Or, you can add a squeeze of orange juice. If you’re feeling a little extra and want to try a flavored syrup, try using the cherry syrup from a high-quality, jar of maraschino cherries, like Luxardo. Either way, start with a small amount and adjust to your liking from there.
What kind of glass should I use for an Espresso Tonic?
You’ll want to use a tall glass as the cocktail is about 6 ½ ounces of liquid plus ice. A highball glass, like a Collins glass, is a great fit for this drink, but I ended up using a stemmed pilsner glass, which worked great.
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📖 Recipe
Espresso Tonic with Vodka Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces espresso or coffee vodka (not coffee liqueur like Kahlua)
- 2 ounces cranberry juice cocktail (not 100% juice)
- 3 ounces tonic water
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- Orange peel for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add the espresso or coffee-flavored vodka and cranberry juice cocktail to a cocktail glass filled with ice.
- Top with tonic water and the orange bitters.
- Stir the cocktail, moving the spoon up and down as you stir to evenly distribute flavors.
- Garnish with an orange peel, if desired.
Notes
- For an extra burst of coffee flavor, add a cooled shot of espresso or a bit of concentrated cold brew or French press coffee to the cocktail.
- For a non-alcoholic version or mocktail, replace the vodka with cooled double shots of espresso.
- For a deeper and even more complex flavor profile, swap the vodka for whiskey or cognac.
- For a sweeter cocktail, add a bit of simple syrup or orange juice. Start with a small amount and adjust to your liking from there.
Nutrition
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