Stirred, Shaken, and Spiked with Caffeine

Celebrating World Cocktail Day the Caffeinatrix Way!

Let's toast to one of the most delightfully rebellious holidays on the calendar: World Cocktail Day — a tribute to the craft of mixing, muddling, and enhancing everything with a perfectly balanced pour. If you're curious why cocktails have their own day, it all started on May 13, 1806, when the term "cocktail" was first defined by the Balance and Columbian Repository, a weekly publication from Hudson, NY. A cocktail was described as "a stimulating liqueur with a wide variety of sweets, waters, and bitters." In 2006, the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans, Louisiana, celebrated this day on its 200th anniversary. Since then, World Cocktail Day has been celebrated annually. Any reason to celebrate creativity in a glass is perfectly fine by us!

An Espresso Old Fashioned at 8 Reale in Orange Beach, AL Photo: Josie Taylor

A Brief Sip of History

Cocktails have been around in one form or another since the 1800s, but they really had their breakout moment during Prohibition. From 1920 to 1933, alcohol was banned across the U.S. During this time, speakeasies thrived and creativity behind the bar exploded.

With bootleg liquor often being a bit questionable in quality, bartenders leaned into syrups, bitters, citrus, and coffee to mask imperfections. This resulted in the rise of the cocktail as we know it. Necessity, meet invention (with a twist of lemon).

Today, the spirit of those underground bars lives on in every artfully garnished glass and candlelit pour — especially in places that keep the vintage vibe alive, like 8 Reale, the speakeasy gem tucked away in Orange Beach.

The Espresso Martini (With a Caffeinatrix Twist)

One of the stars of the modern cocktail world: the Espresso Martini — equal parts indulgent, elegant, and energizing. 8 Reale, creates this classic with none other than Caffeinatrix Midnight Espresso — our bold, balanced espresso roast that was crafted especially for this cocktail. The result? A rich, velvety drink with just enough bite to make you feel like the main character in a noir film. Poured in a chilled coupe, it’s moody, mysterious, and absolutely worth the hype.

Coffee Cocktails to Sip & Swoon Over

Feeling inspired? Here are a few more coffee cocktail ideas to try at home or request from your favorite bartenders who knows their way around a shaker:

1. Espresso Martini

Vodka + Coffee Liqueur + Espresso (Midnight Espresso, obviously) + 3 Espresso Beans

A classic.

2. Cold Brew Negroni

Gin + Campari + Sweet Vermouth + Cold Brew Concentrate

A bitter beauty — sophisticated and perfectly lowkey for happy hour.

3. Espresso Old Fashioned

Bourbon + Chilled Espresso + Simple Syrup + Orange & Mole Bitters + Orange Peel

Smoky and smooth. Think Sunday night jazz and low lighting.

4. Irish Coffee

Hot Coffee + Irish Whiskey + Demerara Syrup + Lightly Whipped Heavy Cream

5. The Revolver

Bourbon + Coffee Liqueur + Orange Bitters + Flamed Orange Peel for Garnish

Sleek, spicy, and criminally underrated.

6. The Flying Frenchman

Absinthe + Coffee Liqueur + Espresso + 3 Espresso Beans for Garnish

Espresso meets Absinthe. Chaos ensues.

Celebrate Like a Prohibition-Era Rebel

This World Cocktail Day, skip the mass-market mixers and overly sweet concoctions. Reach for ingredients that honor the craft — and start with a coffee that’s roasted with care, complexity, and a little bit of mystery.

If you’re near Orange Beach, stop by 8 Reale and try the Espresso Martini with Midnight Espresso. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram for the secret password — we promise it’s worth the detour. Or, opt for a bag of Midnight Espresso, fire up the shaker, and DIY your own speakeasy moment at home. However you celebrate, keep it classy & caffeinated. And if for some reason caffeine does not agree with you, we have our latest Organic Peruvian Swiss Water Decaf now available or choose our Mexican Chiapas Half-Caf (☕ coming soon) for a slightly subtle kick.

Cheers!