Spice up a classic espresso martini with the cozy flavors of chai! Think of a boozy dirty chai latte with vodka, espresso, a splash of milk, and chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. Enjoy this festive cocktail during the cooler months as a delicious holiday season pick me up.
This Chai Espresso Martini is the perfect cocktail for when the weather gets cooler. A traditional espresso martini is given a spicy twist with the warm & cozy flavors of chai!
It's basically a boozy dirty chai latte, so if you like those then you're in for a treat! The classic vodka, kahlúa, & espresso are also shaken with chai concentrate and a dash of cream for the perfect boozy pick-me-up. It has a creamy texture and a frothy top. I even include a recipe for a quick 30 minute homemade chai concentrate, or you can use store-bought.
Prepared in 3 minutes from 5 ingredients, this delicious dirty chai espresso martini is the perfect drink for when you need a holiday pick-me-up during festive season! This recipe is gluten-free and easily dairy-free or vegan, so it's perfect to share with all of your friends and family. Enjoy in the fall and winter for Thanksgiving & Christmas celebrations.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A delicious holiday drink. Perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving, & Christmas!
- So much fall flavour! Tastes like a boozy dirty chai latte. You'll be warm & cozy from the inside, out!
- Uses common bar ingredients. The espresso martini is a classic cocktail. If you like them already, you definitely have most of the ingredients.
- Option for a homemade chai concentrate. Control the sugar and the ingredients when you make it at home.
- Made in 3 minutes. Just shake and enjoy!
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free, and easily dairy-free or vegan.
Want more fall spice? Try my vegan dirty chai scones, gluten-free snickerdoodles, gluten-free ginger molasses cookies, apple pie smoothie, or pumpkin spice tiramisu.
Ingredient Notes
Here are all the ingredients you'll need to make this chai espresso martini:
For the Chai Concentrate
- Water
- Granulated sugar: Try brown sugar or maple syrup to change the flavor of the concentrate.
- Chai tea bags: I like this Stash double spice flavor, but any will do. If you're proficient in chai, you could also simmer black tea and chai spices.
This homemade chai concentrate is delicious and perfect if you have bags of chai. If you want a simpler approach, you can buy chai concentrate at most grocery stores. This Tazo Chai Concentrate is very similar to the one Starbucks uses.
For the Espresso Martini
- Vodka: This is the perfect neutral flavour for an espresso martini.
- Chai concentrate: Use the homemade recipe above or a store bought chai syrup.
- Fresh brewed shot of espresso: It must be fresh to achieve the nice foam on top!
- Kahlúa or another coffee liqueur.
- Milk or cream: While not a traditional ingredient, I like the creamy chai latte taste a little milk gives this espresso martini. Ideally use whole milk or 2%. Use coconut cream or another dairy-free alternative if preferred.
- Ice: For shaking.
Substitutions
There are several ways to change up this cocktail. Here are some substitution suggestions:
- Change the spirit. Try whiskey, bourbon, gin, tequila, or your favourite spirit.
- Make it dairy-free and vegan. Use coconut cream, almond milk, or another dairy-free alternative to add creaminess. Ensure your chai concentrate is also dairy-free.
- Shake with spice. You could add a whole cinnamon stick, star anise, and/or nutmeg to your shaker and shaking will extract the flavours into the drink. Or add a pinch of each as ground spices.
- Adjust sweetness. I don't include any simple syrup in this recipe because chai concentrate often already includes sugar (and so does my homemade version). If you like it sweeter, add some simple syrup, maple syrup, or honey.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full recipe.
Make the Chai Concentrate
(1) Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan. Add the tea bags and gently submerge. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes at a gentle bubble, stirring to ensure all the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat and allow the tea to steep for another 15 minutes. Discard the tea bags and allow the concentrate to cool completely.
(2) Pour into a bottle and keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Make a Chai Espresso Martini
(3) Add all of the espresso martini ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
(4) Close tightly and shake for 30-60 seconds until the outside is frosty.
(5) Remove the small cap of the shaker and/or strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe. Garnish with a star anise, 3 espresso beans, or a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy responsibly!
What to Serve with a Chai Espresso Martini
This dirty chai espresso martini is the perfect cocktail for the fall and winter seasons. Enjoy at Thanksgiving and Christmas with all your friends and family. Heck, you may need it as a mid-meal pick-me-up! Here are some of my holiday faves:
Snacks
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Scones
- Pumpkin Banana Muffins
- Gluten-Free Baked Apple Fritters
- 14 Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Ideas
- Gluten-Free Almond Biscotti
- Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread
Meals
- Gluten-Free Stuffing
- Vegan Pumpkin Pasta
- No Bean Chili
- Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
- KitchenAid Mixer Mashed Potatoes
- Roast Potatoes & Broccoli
- Gluten-Free No Knead Bread
Desserts
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu
- Gluten-Free & Vegan Oreo Truffles
- Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Millionaire Shortbread
Check out more fall recipes!
Make Ahead & Storage
Note that this cocktail recipe is best served and consumed fresh after preparing. It should not be made ahead of time, nor stored for later.
Batching
Because they need to be shaken to achieve the beautiful foam on top, espresso martinis are tricky to batch. The most you can likely fit in your cocktail shaker is 2 drinks. Be patient if making for a crowd.
Expert Tips
Here are some of my top tips and tricks for a successful espresso martini:
- Use store-bought chai concentrate for simplicity.
- Use freshly machine-brewed (but cool) espresso for a foamy top. The crema on top of freshly brewed espresso is what contributes to the classic foam on top of an espresso martini. Instant coffee or cold brew will still give you the flavour, but not the foam.
- Add a splash of milk or cream for a dirty chai latte taste.
- Shake the cocktail extra hard for the beautiful foam. Until the shaker is frosty.
- Chill your coupe in the freezer for a few minutes for an extra cold drink.
- Pour the drink quickly, so the foam settles on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dirty chai is a classic off-menu coffee shop drink where an espresso shot is added to a chai latte. Originating in India, chai is a mix of black tea and warm spices steeped in water. The chai latte adds steamed milk, and a dirty chai adds an espresso shot as well. These dirty chai scones take the drink as inspiration with flavours of warm chai and espresso.
Here is a recipe for 1 tablespoon of chai spice:
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cardamom
¼ tsp ground allspice
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp black or white pepper
Yes, most distilled alcohols are in fact gluten-free and safe for celiacs due to the distillation process. As always, read the label on your vodka. I use Titos, as it is distilled from corn and states it is gluten-free on the bottle.
The crema on top of freshly brewed espresso is what contributes to the classic foam on top of an espresso martini. Instant coffee or cold brew will still give you the flavour, but not the foam.
If you want even more foam, you could add an egg white to the cocktail shaker. Be sure to shake all ingredients dry, before adding ice. Then add ice and shake again. This is a common technique, not in espresso martinis, but in other cocktails.
Any other coffee liqueur will provide the proper flavor. You could omit it and just add an extra half ounce of the chai concentrate. Or try something fun like vanilla vodka for more flavour.
This dirty chai martini is the perfect cozy cocktail for the cooler weather. It's a delicious mix of a strong espresso martini and delicious spicy chai. It's like a boozy dirty chai latte! Enjoy with all your friends and family during the holiday season!
More Drinks
- Aperol Coconut Margarita
- Apple Cider Aperol Spritz
- Peach Basil Sour Cocktail
- Blended Aperol Spritz Cocktail
Have you made this dirty chai espresso martini? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below, and tag me on instagram @fromoliviaskitchen!
Recipe
Chai Espresso Martini
Ingredients
For the Chai Concentrate
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 6 chai tea bags
For the Espresso Martini
- 1½ oz vodka
- 1½ oz chai concentrate homemade or store bought
- 1 oz fresh brewed espresso cooled
- ½ oz kahlúa or another coffee liqueur
- ½ oz milk or cream use dairy-free if preferred
- 5 ice cubes
Instructions
Make the Chai Concentrate
- Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan. Add the tea bags and gently submerge. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes at a gentle bubble, stirring to ensure all the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from the heat and allow the tea to steep for another 15 minutes. Discard the tea bags and allow the concentrate to cool completely. Pour into a bottle and keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Make a Chai Espresso Martini
- Add all of the espresso martini ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Close tightly and shake for 30-60 seconds until the outside is frosty.
- Remove the small cap of the shaker and/or strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a star anise. Enjoy responsibly!
Notes
- Chai concentrate: Use my recipe for a homemade chai concentrate here, or use a store bought version.
- Dairy-free: Use coconut cream or a dairy-free milk of your choice instead.
- Batching: Because they need to be shaken to achieve the beautiful foam on top, espresso martinis are tricky to batch. The most you can likely fit in your cocktail shaker is 2 drinks. Be patient if making for a crowd.
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