Iced Coffee Cocktails: Top 5 Recipes To Try This Summer

If you want something different from the fruity, citrusy, or sweet summer drinks, try iced coffee cocktails. The cold temperature and ice allow for the roasted, chocolaty, and slightly nutty flavours of coffee to play well with the carefully measured spirits and ingredients used. Though the Espresso Martini cocktail is still the most famous example of this type of cocktail, bartenders have continued to add to the category with cold brew pairings with tonic, whisky, and coffee liqueurs. 

Here are iced coffee cocktails, from the classics to the creatives, that experiment with different techniques and ingredients while still championing coffee. 

Iced Coffee Cocktails For Summer

Espresso Martini Cocktail

The Espresso Martini cocktail was invented by bartender Dick Bradsell of London's Soho district in the 1980s and has become one of the world's most well-known coffee cocktails. The ingredients are freshly brewed espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, and ice.  An Espresso Martini cocktail is characterised by roasted coffee notes, dark chocolate undertones, and a velvety foamy layer. The Espresso Martini cocktail stands out from other coffee cocktails because the concentrated bitterness from espresso creates an excellent contrast with the sweetness of the liqueurs. 

The following recipe uses Smirnoff Vodka. However, you can use another vodka, as per your personal preference.

Espresso Martini Cocktail Recipe

Serving: 1

Ingredients:

• 30 ml Smirnoff Vodka

• 15 ml coffee liqueur

• 30 ml freshly brewed espresso, cooled slightly

• Ice

Method

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Add vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso.

3. Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds to create a rich foam.

4. Strain into a chilled martini cocktail glass.

5. Garnish with three coffee beans if desired.

Flavour profile: Roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and subtle sweetness with a creamy foam layer.

Cold Brew Martini Cocktail

Cold brew is another way of incorporating coffee into cocktails. It is brewed over long periods of time using cold water. This type of coffee typically has lower acidity compared to espresso and produces more cocoa and caramel flavours, along with a nutty touch. The longer extraction time allows these softer coffee characteristics to be more prominent in the final product without compromising depth.

The following recipe uses Smirnoff Vodka. However, you can use another vodka, as per your personal preference.

Cold Brew Martini Cocktail Recipe:

Serving: 1

Ingredients:

• 30 ml Smirnoff Vodka

• 45 ml cold brew concentrate

• 10 ml simple syrup

• Ice

Method:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.

2. Add vodka, cold brew concentrate, and simple syrup.

3. Shake until well chilled.

4. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini cocktail glass.

5. Garnish with an orange twist.

Flavour profile: Cocoa, caramel, and nutty coffee notes with a clean finish.

Carajillo Cocktail

The Carajillo cocktail is a traditional Spanish and Mexican beverage that has been growing in popularity at cocktail bars worldwide. In its current form, the Carajillo cocktail is usually made using espresso that has been chilled and a vanilla, citrus, and spice-based Spanish liqueur. The finished drink is served over ice and offers an excellent balance between the bitterness of the espresso and the sweetness of baking spices and candied citrus.

Carajillo Cocktail Recipe:

Serving: 1

Ingredients:

• 30 ml Spanish liqueur

• 45 ml chilled espresso

• Ice

Method:

• Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice.

• Add the liqueur and chilled espresso.

• Stir gently until combined.

• Serve immediately over ice.

Flavour profile: Vanilla, citrus peel, baking spices, and roasted coffee.

Irish Iced Coffee Cocktail

While traditionally served hot, Irish coffee's iced variant provides a newer perspective on the pairing of coffee and Irish whisky. You don't need to mix in a lot of sweeteners like you would in other beverages because the creaminess of the cream, bitterness of the coffee and nuance of the whisky balance each other out instead.

Irish Iced Coffee Cocktail Recipe:

Serving: 1

Ingredients:

• 30 ml Irish whisky

• 90 ml chilled black coffee

• 10 ml simple syrup

• Ice

• 20 ml lightly whipped cream

Method:

• Fill a tall glass with ice.

• Add Irish whisky, chilled coffee, and simple syrup.

• Stir until well mixed.

• Gently float the lightly whipped cream on top using the back of a spoon.

• Serve without stirring.

Flavour profile: Roasted coffee, vanilla, grain notes, and creamy texture.

Cold Brew Whisky Highball Cocktail

The Cold Brew Whisky Highball cocktail is a drink where coffee and whisky come together in a highball format. Cold brew adds roasted and cocoa notes to the drink, while whisky provides oak, spice and malt flavours. Whisky keeps its presence and nuance in the final mixture intact while allowing coffee to have the majority of the flavour.

The following recipe uses Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky. However, you can use another whisky, as per your personal preference.

Cold Brew Whisky Highball Cocktail Recipe:

Serving: 1

Ingredients:

• 30 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label

• 60 ml cold brew coffee

• 90 ml soda water

• Ice

• Orange peel

Method:

• Fill a highball cocktail glass with ice.

• Pour in the whisky and cold brew coffee.

• Top with chilled soda water.

• Stir gently once or twice.

• Express an orange peel over the drink and drop it into the glass.

Flavour profile: Coffee roast, malt, oak spice, citrus oils, and a long, crisp finish.

Why Iced Coffee Cocktails Work In Summer

Here’s why iced coffee cocktails are becoming mainstream in summer:

• Ice gradually softens coffee's bitterness.

• Cold brew contributes smoother roasted flavours than hot coffee.

• Chilled preparation highlights coffee aromas differently from hot drinks.

• Citrus, vanilla, and spice notes pair naturally with coffee. 

• Iced coffee cocktails offer an alternate profile to the sweet-citrusy drinks that usually dominate summer menus. 

Conclusion

Iced coffee cocktails demonstrate the versatility of coffee when combined with various spirits. The iconic Espresso Martini cocktail, citrus-spiced Carajillo cocktail, and Cold Brew Whisky Highball cocktail are just a few examples of how these cocktails showcase the diversity of coffee's flavour. Regardless of whether the cocktail is made using espresso or cold brew, each of these drinks highlights the many flavours of coffee. 

*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.