The Flatliner: A Coffee Cocktail

Name: The Flatliner: A Coffee Cocktail
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American

RECIPE: Clint Rogers for The National, Telluride, Colorado

Photo: Courtesy of The National

October 20, 2025

A decadent Espresso Martini-inspired cocktail.

For a decadent Espresso Martini-inspired cocktail, The National Telluride adds Irish cream to the coffee cocktail and garnishes with cinnamon whipped cream and a pizelle cookie. A touch of Grand Marnier gives it subtle bitter orange and vanilla notes.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. coffee liqueur
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. Irish cream liqueur
1/4 oz. Grand Marnier

Tools:shaker, strainer, fine-mesh strainer
Glass:Old Fashioned
Garnish:cinnamon whipped cream and a pizzelle cookie

Preparation

Add all of the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake to chill. Fine-strain into the chilled glass. Top the cocktail with cinnamon whipped cream and garnish.
Cinnamon Demerara SyrupAdd 5 crushed cinnamon sticks to a pan and dry roast over medium heat until fragrant (about 4 minutes). Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Then turn off the heat and steep for 30 minutes. Strain out the cinnamon sticks, bring the heat to medium-high, and stir in 4 cups of demerara sugar. Once the sugar is dissolved, take it off the heat. Once cooled, strain and add to a storage container. Will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator.
Cinnamon Whipped CreamCombine 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1 1/4 oz. cinnamon demerara syrup. Whip until it’s a very smooth consistency, but before any peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip. Will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.