Let’s get one thing straight: the espresso martini is not dead. Not even close.
Despite what the matcha evangelists at your local liquor store might tell you, the drink ranked among the top four cocktails globally last year and continues to climb in the U.S. — sales up 50 percent in 2023 and still growing.
People are obsessed with coffee flavors, and Nigel Barker is banking on exactly that.
The Barker Company Founder, Nigel Barker
The world-renowned fashion photographer, filmmaker, and television personality hosted a celebration in honor of National Espresso Martini Month at Bowtie Bar, the sleek cocktail lounge perched inside the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel.
With panoramic views of Times Square as a backdrop and a guest list that included his longtime America’s Next Top Model collaborator J. Alexander, alongside influencers, industry insiders, and nightlife personalities, the evening felt less like a brand event and more like a genuine celebration.
The Barker Company Founder, Nigel Barker, and America’s Next Top Model Runway coach, J. Alexander, at The Barker Company’s National Espresso Martini Month celebration at Bowtie Bar
Barker believes the espresso martini has long been misunderstood — and more often than not, poorly mixed.
So he spent two and a half years developing what he describes as “the classic, basic idea of what an espresso martini is”: Colombian espresso, 6X distilled premium vodka, and caramelized brown sugar.
The result is The Barker Company Espresso Martini, which sold over 50,000 cases in its first year across 25 states. Nationwide — and international — distribution is expected by year’s end.
The Barker Company’s Espresso Martini
Then there’s the Cappuccino Martini, which was, frankly, the revelation of the evening.
Barker adds Wisconsin cream to his liqueur base, and the cocktail arrives with a beautiful shimmering foam dusted with chocolate — velvety, smooth, and quietly irresistible.
To his own surprise, Barker was able to trademark “The Cappuccino Martini” without difficulty. Apparently, no one had thought of it before. Perhaps not everyone mixes milk with vodka every day, he mused. Their loss.
A companion of mine who never drinks alcohol was completely seduced by both cocktails. If that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is.
Guests also enjoyed Bowtie Bar’s house cocktails and elevated bites from their “Cast List” and “Curtain Raisers” menu selections — all against the unmistakable glow of Times Square below.
BELLA Magazine CEO, Vanessa Coppes, at The Barker Company’s National Espresso Martini Month celebration at Bowtie Bar
Evan Campbell (L), Lidice (2nd R), Chris Rochow (R) and friends at The Barker Company’s National Espresso Martini Month celebration at Bowtie Bar
(L-2nd R): M22MGT Founder and Manager Nole Marin, The Barker Company Founder, Nigel Barker, CBS New York journalist, Jessica Moore, and America’s Next Top Model Runway Coach, J. Alexander (front), at The Barker Company’s National Espresso Martini Month celebration at Bowtie Bar
Yotam Kafri, Mudras Massage Founder & Master Therapist, and Kathryn Boren, Former Ballet Dancer of American Ballet Theatre, at The Barker Company’s National Espresso Martini Month celebration at Bowtie Bar
America’s Next Top Model Runway Coach, J. Alexander, and CEO of BELLA Magazine, Vanessa Coppes, at The Barker Company’s National Espresso Martini Month celebration at Bowtie Bar
Entertainment Host & Lifestyle Expert, Josh McBride (R) at The Barker Company’s National Espresso Martini Month celebration at Bowtie Bar
