The espresso martini may be experiencing a pop culture resurgence, but if you plan on hitting the slopes in Telluride this winter, drink like the locals with a different variation of coffee cocktail.
The Flatliner has been Telluride’s signature cocktail for more than 25 years, according to Tom Watkinson, spokesperson for Visit Telluride. Made with vodka, Kahlúa coffee liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream, and espresso or cold brew coffee, it is something of a hybrid between two other well-known drinks.
Call it a creamy espresso martini or a White Russian in a martini glass – either way, it’s delicious and it has become a mainstay on menus throughout Telluride, including at slope-side eateries like Gorrono Ranch, which serves it in shot form.
“Basically every bar and restaurant in Telluride can make it, knows exactly what it is and people love it,” Watkinson said.
The Flatliner has been sipped around town for so long that origin stories are often passed around like local lore. But as Watkinson tells it, the Flatliner is like many people in Telluride – it first arrived as a tourist and stuck around long enough to become a local.
Watkinson credits local bartender Steve Foster for helping popularize the Flatliner. Several decades ago, Foster worked at The Peaks Resort & Spa, which is a hot spot for weddings. One day, a wedding party asked Foster to make a special cocktail called a Flatliner, and he gladly obliged.
The creamy libation, served in a martini glass and garnished with three espresso beans, caught the attention of the staff working the party, who decided to try it thereafter. It quickly became a go-to for Telluride’s service industry personnel, Watkinson said, and because the cocktail is a looker, it also captured the eyes of tourists whenever it came across the bar.
“It’s that last little kick and boost you need to get yourself out on the town when you’ve worked a long shift,” said Chris Thompson, co-owner and chef of The National restaurant in downtown Telluride.
The Flatliner’s popularity grew organically, but Watkinson said it really took off when Foster started working at Allred’s Restaurant, located at the town’s gondola station at 10,500 feet in elevation. The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the town of Telluride. With its balance of sweet and bitter, the Flatliner became a signature end-of-meal treat to enjoy while soaking in the views.
“I always saw it as a good after-dinner drink. Then I went into Sheridan (Hotel) one morning for brunch all hungover… I walked in and everyone sitting at the bar had a Flatliner,” Watkinson said. “I said, of course, it’s got coffee in it.”
The drink has become so popular, in fact, that it now has its own festival. Each fall for the last two years, The National has hosted a Flatliner Face-Off, which invites bars in the region to put their own twists on the classic recipe for a group of drinkers who vote for their favorite. During the second annual competition in October, the team from La Marmotte restaurant, also located downtown, won with a concoction of Nikka Vodka, Luxardo Espresso liqueur, Irish cream, and Count Chocula and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereals.
“It’s a fun way for us to do friendly competition that’s industry-driven. We all know the service industry can be a little relentless and unforgiving, so we thought we could do something cool to end cap summer season here,” Thompson said.
While the Flatliner recipes that appear at the competition may not be available year-round at their respective restaurants, most bars in town do serve their own unique versions. At The National, for example, the house Flatliner features locally made vodka, Grand Marnier, Luxardo Espresso liqueur, Irish cream, cinnamon whipped cream and a cinnamon-cocoa pizzelle as garnish. (We’ve included a list of places that serve a Flatliner below.)
Thompson grew up in Telluride, so he’s seen – and drank – his fair share of Flatliners. His tip for newcomers? “Maybe to take it easy depending on how hard you skied and how much more gas you have left in the tank,” Thompson said. “One might not be enough, but three is definitely too many.”
Here are eight places where you can find a Flatliner on the menu:
Almost any bar in Telluride can make a Flatliner, though many also offer unique twists on the classic recipe. (Provided by Visit Telluride)
221 South Oak, 221 S. Oak St. in Telluride, 221southoak.com.
Allred’s Restaurant, located at San Sophia gondola station. tellurideskiresort.com/dine.
The Butcher & The Baker, 201 E. Colorado Ave. in Telluride. butcherandbakercafe.com.
The National Telluride, 100 E. Colorado Ave., Suite B in Telluride. nationaltelluride.com.
New Sheridan Hotel’s parlor cafe and historic bar, 231 W. Colorado Ave. in Telluride. newsheridan.com.
Stronghouse Brew Pub, 283 S. Fir St. in Telluride. stronghousebrewpub.com.
Telluride Distilling Co., 567 Mountain Village Blvd., Suite 106B in Telluride. telluridedistilling.com.
Wood Ear, 135 E. Colorado Ave. in Telluride. woodeartelluride.com.
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