Tennessee runs on two things after 5 p.m.: strong coffee and a good excuse to stay out later than planned. Post Meridiem's Espresso Martini covers both at once, and it's why this little 100ml can has become one of the most talked-about pours from Broadway honky-tonks in Nashville to lake docks on Watts Bar and back porches in Memphis. Whether you're pre-gaming a night out downtown or just extending a slow Sunday by the water, this is the can built for the exact moment your day flips into your night.
The Story Behind the Can
Post Meridiem started with two friends in Atlanta who thought canned cocktails deserved better than a compromise. So they built their own canning line, sourced real ingredients from around the world, and started mixing everything themselves in small batches instead of outsourcing to a co-packer. The name is a nod to what P.M. actually means in Latin, "after noon," because post meridiem hours are yours to enjoy however you want, and a shortcut shouldn't get in the way of that. The result: full-strength, full-proof cocktails in the industry's original 100ml can, made without shortcuts and without the compromises that gave canned drinks a bad name in the first place.
Meet the Espresso Martini
Post Meridiem's Espresso Martini took home Best of Class for the Classic RTD Cocktail category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, along with a Platinum medal at the SIP Awards, a serious showing for a drink that fits in your palm. It's built from vodka, house-made coffee liqueur, and 100% Arabica cold-brew coffee, and it comes in at 45 proof (22.5% ABV).
Tasting notes:
- Nose: Dark-roast coffee grounds with a whisper of vanilla sweetness
- Palate: Bold cold brew up front, balanced by a smooth coffee liqueur and just enough vodka to keep it from tipping into dessert territory
- Finish: Clean and a little bitter, with lingering espresso warmth
Best enjoyed: straight out of the fridge over ice, or shaken hard in a cocktail shaker until it builds a thick, foamy head like the espresso martini you'd order at a proper cocktail bar.
Why Everyone's Suddenly Ordering One
If you've noticed espresso martinis on every menu from brunch to last call, you're not imagining it. The drink has climbed all the way to one of the top-selling cocktails in the country over the past couple of years, and coffee culture gets a lot of the credit. As drinkers got pickier about their coffee, the cocktail's reputation grew right along with it, moving from a strictly late-night order to something people reach for at brunch and happy hour too. Post Meridiem's version rides that wave with a shortcut built in: no shaker, no espresso machine, no cleanup, just a genuinely well-made version of the drink whenever the mood hits.
How to Drink Post Meridiem
Pour it straight over ice for the easiest version of the drink. Want to dress it up for a dinner party? Shake the can, then shake it again with ice in a cocktail shaker before straining into a chilled martini glass. You'll get that signature foam on top without touching a single ingredient. It pairs naturally with anything rich and a little sweet: think banana pudding, pecan pie, or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream after a plate of hot chicken.
Post Meridiem Time, Tennessee Style
Tennessee nights move fast once the sun goes down, and Post Meridiem's Espresso Martini is built for exactly that pace: real ingredients, real coffee, and real craft in a can small enough to keep in your cooler on the way to the lake or your fridge on the way to the back porch. Find it and more ready-to-drink canned cocktails on our website here.
