Bailey’s Salted Caramel and Espresso Martini

The Bailey’s Salted Caramel and Espresso Martini is a fantastic dessert cocktail for the holidays; from Valentine’s Day to the end of the year…it’s totally delicious!

Fads come and go and I’m not usually one to jump on-board, not with Kale or with Trump, but some fads turn into something else; they become a part of the social fabric and eventually lose the ‘fad’ status. Salted Caramel is one of those. I remember as if it were yesterday when my youngest daughter was in high school and we stopped by a Starbucks where I ordered my standard Americano and she spied a drink call a ‘Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate’ and had to have one. It was so good I dumped my Americano and ordered one for myself albeit with a shot of espresso and we were off and running with something we both loved; a love that has never ended. I know I’m not over it so when I was asked to craft a Valentine’s cocktail with Bailey’s Salted Caramel Liqueur I was helpless to resist. While I considered the easiest cocktail would be to simply pour a shot or two over ice I have to admit that this Bailey’s Salted Caramel and Espresso Martini was worth the extra bit of effort and is an homage of sorts to that first experience those many years ago. With the chocolate and pretzel rim it is both fun and delicious and would be a surefire hit for a loved one on Valentine’s Day all the way through the end of the year celebrations.

I’ve long been such a big fan of Bailey’s; it’s one of my favorite dessert liqueurs. Rich and decadent all by itself, adding a touch of salted caramel to this creamy concoction was all good. Adding a bit of rum and espresso? Well, ‘over the top’ comes to mind.

My schedule has been crazy lately and I was off yesterday so I just finished this cocktail and the photos a little bit ago. It is taking all the resolve I have to not down one midday but I’m being good and will patiently wait until a more appropriate time; as in AFTER I finish the post. Hey…my 3pm is someone else 5pm and doesn’t the saying “It’s 5 O’Clock somewhere” apply in this situation? I thought so too!

I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest pretzel fan so this was a leap of faith but I thought the pretzels a much better option than potato chips; offering a heftier crunch and a bit less salt. Maybe this is the application I needed to become a pretzel fan; they are sort of amazing with chocolate. Why didn’t someone tell me?!!

Combined with the flavor of rum and a nudge from espresso, this cocktail seems to be the perfect combination to finish off a fantastic meal or evening. It’s indulgent; sweet and sophisticated all rolled into one and so I recommend sharing it with one you love, with stars you wish you could love or maybe make one for the most important person to love…YOU! If you love Salted Caramel like I do? That’s love enough!