Want to know a fun fact? Australians consume a whopping 22.8 million cups of coffee daily. New South Wales are shaking ‘n’ stirring the majority of coffee cocktails by night, dominating a massive 43 percent of the country’s consumption.
This year, to celebrate International Coffee Day and Australian coffee culture, coffee liqueur brand Tia Maria brings Sydney what it wants: its first dedicated Coffee Cocktail Masterclass, designed to blur the lines between our beloved baristas and bartenders.
The Plus Ones attended a VIP preview of the Cocktail Masterclass at Eau De Vie Darlinghurst – to precede the consumer event to be held there on October 1st: International Coffee Day.
First invented in 1980 by Dick Bradsell, Tia Maria was actually the original coffee liqueur included in the cocktail we Sydney-siders know and love — none other than the Espresso Martini. Their unique coffee liqueur is made from Arabica Coffee Beans, and includes elements of Madagascar Vanilla, and Jamaican Rum — yum!
In an intimate hands-on workshop, Brand Ambassador Danilo Migliorini walked guests through the art of making three different coffee-based cocktails: the signature “Tia Espresso Martini”, the “Twisted Tia” (a twist on an Old Fashioned), plus the (highly instagrammable) “Espresso Zabaione”.
Regarded by many as the national cocktail of Australia, The “Tia Espresso Martini” was the standout for me. As the only drink that wakes you up; and messes you up at the same time, I’d always wanted to learn how to make one. Danilo’s instructions were fun and easy to follow, and as if free-flowing drinks weren’t enough — each cocktail was paired with a bespoke menu of complementary desserts.
If you want to add an Espresso Martini to your cocktail-making repertoire, you can still book a spot in the Masterclass for just $30 per person, including a free Tia Maria gift bag. Go on, shake things up a bit.
– Jill
Jill is a Sydney-based journalist who drinks by the logic: it’s five o’clock somewhere. Follow her on Instagram.
Cocktail fans can book a spot in the Masterclass on 1 October for $30 per person via Eventbrite.
For more information, visit the Tia Maria Facebook Page.
