Replicate the at-the-bar experience at home with two cocktails of the moment, the Passion Star Martini and the Espresso Martini

One’s a sweet yet tantalisingly tart sip and the other’s rich and creamy, but what they both have in common is that they’re in the most in demand cocktails currently in UK bars. At the base of these fairly recent cocktail inventions are liqueurs and if you add these staples to your drink’s cabinet, you can open up a world of possibilities when it comes to the art of cocktail making – certainly enough to impress your friends and family the next time you entertain.

How to make a Passion Star Martini

Essential liqueur: 1606 Passion Fruit Liqueur

Also known as the Porn Star Martini, the Passion Star Martini was invented by the late Douglas Ankrah in 2002 while he was working at the Townhouse cocktail bar in Knightsbridge, London. The cocktail mixes vodka, vanilla syrup passion fruit purée, passion fruit liqueur, is garnished with half a fresh passion fruit and has a shot of Prosecco on the side.

The recipe…

35ml 1606 Vodka
15ml 1606 Passion Fruit Liqueur
25ml Passion fruit purée (Funkin is best)
10ml Vanilla syrup
Half a passion fruit to garnish
Shot of Prosecco (optional)

Add the the vodka, liqueur, syrup and purée to a cocktail shaker. Shake well with ice before straining into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with half a passion fruit and serve with a shot of Prosecco.

How to make an Espresso Martini

Essential liqueur: 1606 Coffee Liqueur

Developed in the late 1980s, the Espresso Martini was invented by Dick Bradsell at the Soho Brasserie. A blend of coffee liqueur, vodka, sugar syrup and espresso for that extra kick of caffeine, it is characterised by its foamy top. The secret to creating this is to use machine brewed espresso and to shake vigorously.

The recipe…

20ml 1606 Coffee Liqueur
40ml 1606 Vodka
30ml Espresso
10ml Sugar syrup
Ice
3 Coffee beans to garnish

Shake the ingredients over ice for 15-20 seconds. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with the coffee beans.

1606 Bartender Liqueurs are a recent addition to our 1606 collection of spirits. Designed to complement both the 1606 Vodka and Gin in cocktails, they can also be served chilled over ice.