If you’re a chai latte lover, this spiked espresso martini is the drink for you. The creamy blend of coffee and gin is warmed up with a sprinkling of cinnamon and chai spices, together with a comforting dose of Baileys and coffee liqueur. Yum!

Grab a blanket and snuggle up by the fire with one of these as the chilly nights set in…

What is chai?

Chai is the word for tea in numerous different Asian languages and it is derived from the Chinese word for tea “Chá (茶)“.

In the Western world, the word “chai” is now synonymous with Indian “masala chai”, which is a mix of black tea leaves and a range of different spices. The spices used are different for every household or tea maker, but the standard mix usually consists of ginger, clove, cardamom and cinnamon.

If you order masala chai anywhere in India it is usually sweetened with sugar and milk, or made with condensed milk. They are boiled together in a pan and poured into cups to serve.

We have swapped the sugar for Baileys and the coffee liqueur in this cocktail, which add smooth, creamy textures and a rich hum to the drink.

The mellow flavours of the Baileys and coffee liqueur work so well with the chai spice flavours too, which we add using chai syrup (scroll down to find our easy, homemade chai syrup recipe).

We then use gin and fresh coffee to balance the sweetness of Baileys and the liqueur, adding deep layers of warm, cosy tones that really take this cocktail to the next level.

The milk then rounds out everything wonderfully so that you are left with the perfect creamy martini that’s brimming with autumnal delight!

What gin should I use in this Chai Latte Espresso Martini?

A good craft London dry gin, with its mouthwatering juniper-led profile, works great in this recipe. You can find lots to choose from here.

However, a good spiced craft gin can really take the flavours of this cocktail up a notch.

Ludlow Spiced No. 3 is a great gin to try in this cocktail and so is Micil Spiced Orange Gin, if you want to add fruitier citrus tones into the mix.

Give it a go…

Chai Latte Espresso Martini

Serves 2

50ml espresso
100ml gin
20ml Baileys
20ml Kahlua
25ml chai syrup
100ml milk
Cinnamon
Sugar

Make your espresso shot and leave to cool.

Rim two martini glasses with a mix of cinnamon and sugar.

Add the gin, Baileys, Kahlua, spiced syrup and milk to a shaker packed with ice, then shake and strain into the glasses. Pour half the espresso over each drink, then sprinkle with cinnamon to serve.

*Instead of a store-bought spiced syrup, you can make your own by steeping 6 chai teabags in a saucepan of 500ml of hot water from the kettle, for 10-15 minutes. Remove the teabags and stir in 400g of light brown sugar, then gently heat for 10 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool before using.