There are espresso martinis. And then there's this.

The Dirty Chai Rum Espresso Martini takes everything you love about the classic — the hit of coffee, the silky froth, the late-night energy — and layers in something deeper. Cardamom. Assam tea. Cassia. The warm, spiced soul of a proper masala chai, bottled into rum and shaken hard.

This is the cocktail that stops people mid-sip and makes them ask: what is that?

What You Need

Serves 1

• 50ml State of Rum Chai Rum

• 25ml freshly pulled espresso (or cold brew concentrate)

• 15ml coffee liqueur (Kahlúa or Mr Black work well)

• 10ml simple syrup (optional — taste first)

• Ice for shaking

• To garnish: 3 coffee beans, a pinch of ground cardamom

How to Make It

1. Pull your espresso shot and leave it to cool for 2 minutes — hot espresso kills the froth.

2. Add the Chai Rum, espresso, coffee liqueur, and syrup to a cocktail shaker packed with ice.

3. Shake hard for 15–20 seconds. The vigour is the secret to that signature foam.

4. Double-strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.

5. Garnish with 3 coffee beans and a light dusting of cardamom.

Sip immediately. Try not to make another one straight away. (You will.)

Why Chai Rum Works Here

Most espresso martinis are one-dimensional — coffee, sweetness, done. The Chai Rum adds a whole new layer. The cardamom cuts through the bitterness of the espresso in exactly the right way. The Assam tea in the rum echoes the coffee without competing with it. And the warmth of cassia lingers on the finish long after the glass is empty.

It's not a gimmick. It's genuinely better.

The Rum Behind It

State of Rum's Chai Rum is our signature blend — inspired by founder Jaspreet's grandmother's spiced tea, made in small batches in Cambridgeshire. Assam tea, cardamom, cassia, and vanilla, hand-crafted into a 47% ABV rum that's bold enough to hold its own against espresso and complex enough to reward every sip.

It won a Bronze Medal at the London Spirits Competition 2024. We think it deserves more.

 Shop Chai Rum → 

Make It Your Own

• Iced version: Pour over a large ice cube in a rocks glass instead of straining.

• Vegan: Check your coffee liqueur — both Kahlúa and Mr Black are vegan-friendly.

• Lighter: Drop the simple syrup entirely. The rum carries enough sweetness.

• Bolder: Add a barspoon of black sesame paste to the shaker. Wild, but it works.

More Chai Rum Serves

Love the Chai Rum? Here's what else it does brilliantly:

• Chai Rum & Ginger Beer — the classic. Squeeze of orange, big ice cube, done.

• Chai White Russian — replace vodka with Chai Rum. You're welcome.

• Spiced Chai Hot Toddy — Chai Rum, hot water, honey, lemon. Winter in a glass.

 See all cocktail recipes →