The Truth About the Espresso Martini: A Micro-Doc Reveals a Nightlife Legend’s Racy Origins
In a city notorious for its bold bartenders and even bolder stories, filmmaker Jacqueline Fernandez has unleashed a five-minute micro-documentary that peels back the curtain on one of London’s most iconic cocktails: the Espresso Martini.
Dick Bradsell Espresso Martini is a cinematic toast to a legend — a rebel who didn’t just serve drinks but changed the way the world drank them. Featuring a wink-worthy origin story straight from the 1980s: a model in 1985 slinks up to Bradsell and demands a “wake-me-up and then fuck-me-up” cocktail. Forty years later, that pairing of caffeine and carnal desire thrives worldwide.
Told by Beatrice Bradsell, this is a story about an artist who redefined London’s nightlife, not just with his signature drinks but with his rebellious spirit — a man who, beyond the bar, befriended musicians and filmmaker Sir Christopher Nolan, even having his cocktail renamed by Damien Hirst.
The film’s deep dive, laced with juicy anecdotes and a touch of London’s underground glamour, was inspired by a seemingly innocent menu at London’s Langham Hotel. But that menu’s quiet mention of Bradsell’s name set off a chain of discovery and storytelling that culminated in this bold, punchy tribute — created amidst a whirlwind schedule in just five weeks, with music provided by Oscar-nominated musician Adrian Quesada and stunning visuals by BSC award winner Jon Muschamp.
The film doubles as a love letter to the creator and a call to look deeper at the stories behind our favorite drinks — and the eccentrics who craft them. It’s also a wink to the daring and rebellious spirit that drinks like the Espresso Martini symbolize.
Fernandez’s debut not only captures the essence of London nightlife but also stirs up wider questions: Who was Bradsell, really? And what does that say about the city that bred him? It’s “cocktail history” with a cutting edge, a spirited toast to the night swiggers, the culture vultures, and the legend-makers.
