Zizou Berg’s Espresso Martini

Zizou Berg’s Espresso Martini is a tequila-based take on the modern coffee cocktail, built around LALO Tequila. The drink replaces the vodka typically used in an Espresso Martini with LALO’s blanco tequila, creating a version that leans into agave character while maintaining the familiar structure of coffee, sweetness and foam created through shaking. The result is a cocktail that combines roasted espresso intensity with tequila’s bright, clean profile.

LALO Tequila is known for its minimalist production style. The brand’s blanco expression is made with just three ingredients: mature agave, champagne yeast and deep well water. Without barrel aging, the spirit emphasizes fresh agave notes and citrus brightness, which contrast with the deeper roasted flavors of espresso and coffee liqueur in the cocktail. When shaken with ice, the mixture becomes chilled and lightly aerated, producing the signature crema-like foam that defines many espresso martinis.

Coffee cocktails have become a major category in contemporary bars, driven by the popularity of the Espresso Martini and the broader overlap between cocktail and specialty coffee culture. Variations using different base spirits — including rum, whiskey and tequila — allow bartenders and brands to highlight new flavor combinations while maintaining the recognizable balance of bitter coffee, sweetness and alcohol.

In this version, tequila provides structure and subtle peppery notes that cut through the sweetness of coffee liqueur and simple syrup. Fresh espresso anchors the drink with bold roast flavor and aroma. Served in a chilled coupe and garnished with three espresso beans, the cocktail keeps the visual cues and presentation of a classic Espresso Martini while introducing agave-forward character.