Southern Buttermint Espresso Tonic

A playful take on the buttermint candy you remember from grandma's purse, now caffeinated. Howler Espresso layered over chilled tonic water, with spearmint and white mocha for that creamy candy-shop sweetness. Top it with a crumbled buttermint and watch the colors swirl. Sweet, bright, bubbly. Ready in five minutes.

An iced sparkling drink in a clear Frothy Monkey cup topped with pastel buttermint candies, with extra buttermint candies scattered on a mint green surface.

Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Fill a 16 oz cup with ice.
  2. Pour 5 oz of tonic water over the ice.
  3. Add the Mint Coffee Syrup and white mocha sauce to a shot glass or small vessel.
  4. Pull 2 shots of Howler Espresso directly over the syrup and sauce, then whisk vigorously to combine.
  5. Pour the espresso mixture slowly over the tonic water. This creates the signature layered look.
  6. Grate or crumble a buttermint candy on top.

Barista Tips

What is an espresso tonic?
An espresso tonic is espresso poured over tonic water and ice. The bitterness of the tonic, the natural sweetness in the espresso crema, and the carbonation combine into something that tastes nothing like either ingredient on its own.

What is a buttermint?
Buttermints are pastel-colored, soft candy mints common in the South. They taste like sweet cream and mild mint. We use one as the garnish because it slowly melts into the foam on top and gently sweetens the drink as you sip.

Why is this drink built backwards from a normal iced latte?
Espresso tonics are the exception to the usual iced-drink rules. Pour the tonic directly over the ice first, then layer the espresso and syrup mixture slowly over the top. This protects the carbonation and creates the signature layered look.

Products Featured In This Recipe

Grab everything you need to make this café quality drink at home.

Howler Espresso Mint Coffee Syrup
Howler
Howler-bag-label-webstore.png

Howler$18.00

Howler is our medium-dark espresso blend, built on a buttery natural Brazil paired with a chocolatey Central American coffee. Well-rounded body, low and sweet acidity, with tasting notes of almond butter, dark chocolate, and red grape. Those notes carry through to a creamy finish that holds its layered look when poured over the tonic.

Shop Howler Espresso
Mint Coffee Syrup

$8.00

Spearmint, not peppermint. 0.5% menthol against peppermint's 40%, so the cooling is gentle and the flavor sweeter and brighter. Made in Nashville with real spearmint and mint extract. The spearmint plays cleanly against the white mocha in this drink, giving the tonic its candy-store finish.

Shop Mint Syrup

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