Delta Espresso Martini (with Bourbon Cream!) Review

Several Delta Air Lines-centric social media posts and messages boards posted what seems like a fun, new beverage trend on board Delta flights.

Being the good blogger I am, I fell on the sword and tried the cocktail so you could read all about it. (No need to thank me!)

Delta Espresso Martini — with Bourbon Cream!

Delta now offers Tip Top Proper Cocktails canned Espresso Martinis. This is the same company that produces the fantastic Old Fashioneds and margaritas. (It appears the margaritas are no longer available.)

I’m not a huge martini fan. Longtime readers of this space probably know that bourbon and red wine are my beverage vices.

But several weeks ago, I saw a post (maybe on Facebook or Reddit, I honestly don’t remember) from someone who ordered an espresso martini — and the passenger’s flight attendant recommended adding some Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream to it. (Yes, Delta now sells that onboard, too!)

The passenger tried the suggestion — and said it was amazing.

I gradually saw more people post about the espresso and bourbon cream concoction— and never once saw a bad review.

So, I took advantage of a recent Los Angeles (LAX) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) flight to see if the fuss was merited.

How Is It?

Now, here’s the thing. This drink gets expensive if you’re seated in Delta’s Main Cabin. (Alcohol is complimentary in Delta One, First Class, Premium Select, and Comfort+.)

The Tip Top Espresso Martini is one alcoholic beverage and costs $12. The Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream is a separate drink — and costs $12. I sat in Main Cabin – so the treat came to $24. That’s pretty steep. Luckily, I actually received my Medallion drink tickets this year and redeemed two of them. (Keep in mind Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card give a 20% statement credit on eligible purchases made on board Delta Air Lines and Delta Connection flights. That’d save you almost $5 in this instance.)

I’m generally a believer in the Don’t-Mix-Dark-Liquors-with-Clear-Liquors philosophy. I was slightly apprehensive because the bourbon cream is made with, well, bourbon (a dark) and the espresso martini contained vodka (a clear). Given that I’d have one cocktail, though, I figured I’d be OK. Plus, I love Colorado Bulldogs (think White Russians with some cola).

It turns out one was plenty.

I first tried the espresso martini on the rocks. I mentioned earlier that I’m not a big martini guy. But this tasted fine.

The bourbon cream addition, though, made it a rather tasty beverage — and pretty smooth. My taste buds detected coffee (of course) and chocolate. There wasn’t a strong alcohol taste.

The espresso martini with bourbon cream is quite rich and very filling. The drink alone is practically a snack.

I had eaten a very light breakfast in the Sky Club a few hours earlier. So, the first few sips provided a nice, little buzzy feeling.

It’s very well suited for a dessert drink. In fact, the drink itself could probably be your dessert.

I ordered the fruit and cheese Flight Fuel snack. That did not pair well with the espresso martini-bourbon cream cocktail.

As I got toward the bottom of the cup, the ice and cream kind of blended together. And, wow, that was delicious! It was sort of like a spiked coffee milkshake.

But a few hours later, I felt kinda meh from all the sugar (and the fruit surely didn’t help).

Final Approach

I’m glad I tried the Tip Top Espresso Martini and Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream combination! (And thanks to the person who first posted about it!) It was good — but not necessarily my thing. Will I try it again sometime? Eh, maybe. But I’ll probably stick to my trusty Old Fashioneds and Woodford Reserve.

Have you tried the Tip Top Espresso Martini, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream — or both together? Please tell us in the below Comments section!