Bean There, Drank That
There’s a caffeinated buzz swirling through the Queen City this summer, and it’s not just your standard Monday morning rush. From now through August 31, Cincinnati cocktail lovers have the chance to sip their way through a citywide celebration of one of the most iconic drinks of the moment: the espresso martini. This isn’t just a trend. It’s an event. Enter the Summertime Espresso Martini Passport, a three-month passport-powered bar crawl that invites you to explore 13 bars, each serving its own inspired take on the espresso martini.
For just $10, this passport grants access to $6 espresso martinis at each of the 13 participating locations. That is a steal considering the average price of a cocktail downtown can easily hit $12 or more. The premise is as smooth as the drink itself. Get your passport, hit the bars, sip, stamp, rate, repeat.
How It Works
The process is refreshingly analog in a digital world. It adds a sense of adventure and nostalgia to your nights out. First, grab your passport either online from Four Entertainment Group or at one of their launch events. Then it’s time to explore.
Each of the 13 participating bars is serving up a signature espresso martini with its own unique twist. Think peanut butter banana, toasted marshmallow, maple, popcorn, and frozen variations. For every drink you enjoy, get your passport stamped. You can jot down tasting notes, rate each cocktail on a 1 to 5 bean scale, and collect memories (and mild caffeine jitters) along the way.
Where You’ll Be Drinking
This isn’t limited to downtown. The passport spans neighborhoods and flavors:
Beeline (Newport): Brown Sugar Espresso Martini
The Buzz (Newport): Frozen Espresso Martini
Igby’s (Downtown): Classic
Japp’s (Downtown): Popcorn
Killer Queen (Downtown): Casamigos-based
The Lackman (Over-the-Rhine): Cinnamon
Low Spark (Over-the-Rhine): Maple
Pilar (Downtown): Café Papa
The Righteous Room (Downtown): Toasted Caramel
Roosevelt Room (Liberty Center): Classic
Roosevelt Room (Rookwood): Trust Buster
Rosedale OTR: Toasted Marshmallow
The Stretch: Peanut Butter Banana
Each location brings something different to the table. That makes this a true cocktail adventure.
What’s in It for You?
Besides sipping your way through the city’s most stylish lounges and dive-y gems, there is a prize pot that sweetens the deal:
A year of free espresso martinis
A private cocktail party for up to 10 people
Smirnoff gift baskets
Other surprise perks
To be eligible, you’ll need to complete your passport and postmark it by September 2. The more stamps you collect, the better your chances of winning. This is a bar crawl with benefits and no blackout dates.
Why It’s a Win-Win-Win
This passport is not just a boozy checklist. It’s an excuse to reconnect with friends, discover new hangouts, and test the creative boundaries of a classic cocktail. It is also wonderfully flexible. You can knock out a few stops in one night, visit one a week, or save your favorites for a weekend blitz.
For people new to town, it’s an introduction to Cincinnati’s bar culture. For longtime residents, it’s a reason to break routine and try something new. For anyone who just loves a good deal, you are looking at over $100 in value for a $10 investment.
What’s Next?
If you haven’t already, head to fouregshop.com to grab your passport. Then pull up your calendar and start planning your crawl. Want to go neighborhood by neighborhood? Alternate flavors each week? Collect notes and crown your own espresso martini champion?
Whatever your style, the Summertime Espresso Martini Passport gives you full creative control with a generous pour of fun. Whether you like yours shaken, flavored, or frozen, Cincinnati is now the most caffeinated cocktail town in the Midwest.
Bottoms up. Beans down. Let the sipping begin.