Grave Digger

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

Cocktail History

The Grave Digger is a Halloween cocktail that was created in 2018 by Katie Stryjewski, the cocktail recipe developer and author behind Garnish Girl. Meant to be a twist on the Spanish Coffee, this spookier version mixed vanilla-infused brandy and coffee with citrus liqueur, and it tops it with sweet whipped cream and crushed cookies.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Vanilla Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with fermented fruit juice and yeast, which are distilled and then aged and infused with vanilla to develop a sweet, spiced flavor.

Espresso: This is a type of coffee made with finely ground coffee beans and water, which are brewed under high pressure to develop a rich, intense flavor.

Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bold, roasted coffee flavor.

Orange Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with bitter orange peels, brandy or distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, rich citrus flavor.

Whipped Cream: This is a dairy topping made with cream and sugar, which are whipped into a light, airy texture.

Oreo Cookies: This is a cookie made with two chocolate wafers and a sweet fondant center.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
• 🔗 Wide Awake Coffee Company Espresso Blend Cold Brew Coffee
• 🔗 Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
• 🔗 Senior & Co. Orange Curaçao Liqueur
• 🔗 Reddi-Wip Original Dairy Whipped Topping
• 🔗 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Espresso Machine: This is a kitchen appliance that forces hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure to produce concentrated espresso.

Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed glass with a shallow, wide bowl that’s used for serving shaken cocktails and sparkling drinks without ice.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
• 🔗 Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Coupe Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Dark brown color with a frothy top

• Aroma: Cream and cocoa

• Taste: Initial flavor of sweet cream that leads into bold coffee notes fortified with barrel-aged brandy

• Finish: Dark coffee and citrus

Kendall’s Take
“This dessert-style cocktail takes the boldness of the iconic Espresso Martini and adds a festive, indulgent twist. Whipped cream and crushed Oreos turn it into a playful, boozy sweet treat, while the coffee, brandy, and subtle citrus notes provide depth for those who still love a little complexity. The Grave Digger is rich yet still fun and a great option for Halloween when you want a cocktail that doubles as a dessert in a glass.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the publication Liquor.com.