Espresso Martini — A modern classic created in 1983 by London bartender Dick Bradsell. The drink began as the Vodka Espresso after a customer reportedly asked for something that would both wake her up and hit hard. The earliest version was simpler than many modern recipes—vodka, fresh espresso, and a little sugar—before the now-familiar Espresso Martini style took hold with coffee liqueur and its signature frothy top.